R E V I E W S

The Grinch (2000)

Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski
Director: Ron Howard
Rating: PG

Studio: Universal Pictures

Review Posted: 11.15.00

Rating: 4/5

By Paul Perkins.

Everyone gather near your computer screen I am going to tell you a little story about a mean man who it takes a whole town to change him. He’s mean, he’s green, he’s hairy and every one is scared of him he’s The Grinch.

Since 1957 Dr Seuss wrote How The Grinch stole Christmas every since then readers young and old has love his book. So Hollywood. For decade they have been trying to get motion picture rights for a live action production. But the writer and creator of the book Theodor S. Geisel (Dr Seuss) did not want Hollywood to make a film and it stayed like that way until his death in 1991. The widow of Dr Seuss Audrey Geisel trusted the filmmaker to come up with a movie that her late husband would have love. Thus Dr Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) was born.

For the little town of Whoville Christmas is the best time of the year. Everyone decorate their houses with lights esp. two neighbors Betty (Molly Shannon) who is totally immersed in her quest to beat her neighbors Martha May Whovie (Christine Baranski) in the Whobilation lighting competition. The town mayor May Who (Jeffrey Tambor) wants the whole town to have a good Christmas and be happy. The whole town is except there is one person who lives on the outskirts on top of a mountain so he could look down on the townsfolk.

He is the meanest and the hairiest of the townsfolk his name is The Grinch (Jim Carrey) and he hates Christmas with a passion and he will try anything to stop Christmas from coming. Why you ask? No one knows maybe it the way he was raise or maybe his shoes was on too tight or because his heart was two sizes too small. No one knows not even canine Max. But for one of Whoville citizens name Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) who is curious why The Grinch is the way he is and she will do a little digging to uncover the truth behind the town biggest meanie and they both will find out things they never knew and find out the true meaning of Christmas.

Well, the most talked about film of the year is out, just in time for the holidays and it will clean up at the box office.

Good points:
The story was good of course we all know about the book and how the story goes. But Director Ron Howard did a great job of bring it to life for the younger generation of today and the generation who has grown up reading the book.
The customers and make-up effects esp. The Grinch was outstanding. Rick Baker did a fabulous job on The Grinch and everyone keep an eye out come Oscar time. He should get some nomination for The Grinch and should win for best Make-Up.
The cast was great. Jim Carrey was good as The Grinch but I have some bad points about him to tell you all later. The supporting cast was good Esp. Taylor Momsen who kind of steals the show as much as she could next to Jim Carrey. I was totally surprise how she hold up good next to the 20 Million a pictures Jim. The Grinch was her first picture role.

Bad points:
Couples of scenes in The Grinch I feel are not good for kids to see. For example in one screen The Grinch is eating glass like it was candy. Kid could think that is ok and try to do it. And in another scenes Christine character shows a little cleavage, which I think, should not have been in the film. Jim Carrey steals the show as he usually does. But he keeps the same way of acting. After a little bit it gets annoying he really should change his style of acting. He is a good actor but he does the same stuff in all his film.

Overall, Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a great family movie. The new generation will love it and the older generation will also love it. You will be amazed how The Grinch looks Have a family night out and go she this film but remember get your tickets early there will be long lines but it is worth the wait.

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