Austin Cox's Review of The NEW Grinch Film

Everyone's familiar with the story, and nothing has been changed, though a few elements have been added. The monster-like Grinch lives high atop Mt. Crumpit, overlooking the town of Whoville and despising the Whos and their exuberant Christmas celebrations. Finally having had enough of it, he plots to steal all of the Christmas accessories, only to discover that yuletide cheer doesn't come from store-bought things anyway, and that it's impossible to steal the Christmas spirit.

What's been added is a backstory for the Grinch. Seems he appeared mysteriously in Whoville as a baby, and was raised by two spinsters. As a child, he was mistreated because of his odd appearance, and subsequently left town to live as a hermit up on the mountain.

This makes the Grinch quite sympathetic, and puts the blame back on the Whos. Little Cindy Lou Who, the cutest little puddin'-head ever photographed, seems to realize this and seeks to bring the Grinch back into polite society. It is after this effort goes awry that he seeks his Christmas Eve revenge.

Jim Carrey is extraordinary as the Grinch. Despite the elaborate costume and makeup, it's still Carrey under there, cracking jokes and making the role as funny as anything he's ever done. (Checking his schedule for the day: "Four o'clock, wallow in self-pity. Four-thirty, stare into the abyss. Five-thirty, jazzercise.") I don't know how much ad-libbing was done, but a lot of the Grinch's lines sound like Jim Carrey having fun. The Grinch isn't just an old grump; he's a powerfully entertaining figure. Jim Carrey carries this movie.

                                                     Jim Carrey as the Grinch

The said middle-of-the-road sensibilities of Ron Howard do the film a few disservices, too. The story is drawn out too much, with so much resolution after the Grinch's change-of-heart climax that it's hard to feel much emotion when things finally do end. There's also a show-stopping, out-of-the-blue song by the adorable little girl, and a couple ill-conceived crude jokes that stick out like sore thumbs.

Here is how the film did at the box office (according to Box Office Mojo):