“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a Christmas classic which was a wonderful adaptation of the popular Dr. Seuss book. Featuring a fantastic performance by Jim Carrey and young Taylor Momsen and wonderful makeup and set design, due to Carrey’s performance, it may spook young children but for adults, teenagers and older children, the film will no doubt entertain the entire family.
TITLE: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
FILM RELEASE: 2000
DURATION: 1 Hr. and 45 Minutes
COMPANY: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
RATED: PG (Some Crude Humor)
Based on the Book by Dr. Seuss
Directed by Ron Howard
Screenplay by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman
Produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard
Associate Producer: Linda Fields, Aldric La’auli Porter, Louisa Velis, David Womark
Executive Producer: Todd Hallowell
Music by James Horner
Cinematography by Donald Peterman
Edited by Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Casting by Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins
Production Design by Michael Corenblith
Art Direction by Lauren E. Polizzi, Dan Webster
Set Decoration by Meredith Boswell
Costume Design by Rita Ryack
Starring:
Jim Carrey as Grinch
Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who
Kelley as Max
Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor August Maywho
Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier
Bill Irwin as Lou Lou Who
Molly Shannon as Betty Lou Who
Clint Howard as Whobris
Josh Ryan Evans as 8-year-old Grinch
Mindy Sterling as Clarnella
Rachel Winfree as Rose
Discover the true meaning of the holiday season with the live action adaptation of the beloved classic, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch, director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer reimagine one of the most enduring holiday stories of all time. Why is the Grinch (Carrey) such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and the Grinch’s world upside down, inside out… and funny side up. Filled with dazzling scenery, special effects, makeup and costumes, this is an adventure “that can make your heart grow three sizes – if you’re not laughing too hard!” (Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Actor and filmmaker Ron Howard has had a successful career directing.
From “Splash”, “Cocoon”, “Willow”, “Backdraft”, “Apollo 13”, “Ransom”, “Far and Away” and “Edtv” in the ’80s and ’90s, Howard would kick of 2000 with a Christmas comedy based on the popular 1957 Dr. Seuss book, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
The film featured a screenplay by writing duo Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (both wrote “Shrek the Third”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “Wild Wild West”) and would star Jim Carrey (“The Truman Show”, “Dumb and Dumber”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”), Taylor Momsen (“Gossup Girl”, “We Were Soldiers”), Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”, “The Hangover”, “Arrested Development”), Christine Baranski (“Into the Wood”, “The Good Wife”, “The Big Bang Theory”), Bill Irwin (“Interstellar”, “Rachel Getting Married”, “Lady in the Water”), Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”, “Never Been Kissed”), Clint Howard (“Apollo 13”, “Rock ‘n Roll High School”, “The Waterboy”), Josh Ryan Evans (“Passions”, “Ally McBeal”), Mindy Sterling (“Austin Powers” films) and Rachel Winfree (“Donnie Darko”, “Old School”).
The film begins with All the Whos down in Whoville celebrating Christmas and when a group of teenagers try to go near the Grinch’s lair, he scares them and the teenagers come to town to tell them that the reason why they are scared is because of the Grinch, which gets the citizens of Whoville all riled up.
With the exception of six-year-old Cindy Lou (portrayed by Taylor Momsen), Cindy Lou curiosity leads here to want to learn more about the Grinch and she begins interviewing people to find out more about him.
She finds out that while the Grinch was raised with love, it was because he’s different that other children treated him differently. Born green with a lot of fur, he was subject to a bullying and a lot of ridicule.
But something happens as a child that made the Grinch say goodbye to his family, Whoville and dislike Christmas for many years.
But when Cindy Lou wants to show her support to the Grinch and nominates him as a main participant of the Whobilation, to the dismay of Mayor May Who (portrayed by Jeffrey Tambor), one of the Grinch’s bullies from his past, what happens when the Grinch feels humiliated once again as an adult? And can Cindy Lou find a way to show him the true meaning of Christmas?
I think that when “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” came out, it was something that people just couldn’t picture in their head ever happening. Dr. Seuss characters are often thought of as characters that would work as animated films but for live, I suppose one would think it as impossible.
But in 2000, Ron Howard and Bryan Grazer were able to achieve success with “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. May it be people who wanted to see a Christmas film, a Dr. Seuss film or the fact that Jim Carrey was a sure winner in the box office with a string of successful films, the film would earn $345.1 million in the box office (the film was budgeted at $123 million) thus achieving the success despite film critics feeling that the film was dark and creepy.
There is no doubt that Jim Carrey saved his film with his portrayal as the Grinch. The character is meant to be creepy, crazy and outlandish but you have to give major props to Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman for creating an adaptation that goes much further than the original book and running with it, creating an outlandish way to showcase the Grinch in all his glory.
Ron Howard and crew were able to create a wonderful world with Whoville and a lot of planning in creating the look and movements of the Who’s but the makeup/costume design for the Grinch was effective. And really, this film was sold on Jim Carrey’s ability to take on many characters which had exhibited for years, not just on film but many of us have watched him throughout the years on television via “In Living Color”.
And of course, bridging this film to make it a family film is through the cuteness of a very young Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who and the film also features good performances from Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin and Molly Shannon.
If anything, I felt the Ron Howard and crew were successful with their adaptation and the film has become a Christmas classic, but with that being said, as a family film, is this film more for the adults or the children? I think that older children would enjoy the film, while younger children would be scared by the Grinch. Afterall, the character is a sourpuss for most of the film, doing not so nice things that a few children and the character’s appearance may simply spook young children.
But other than that, you either enjoy”Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” or you don’t.
I enjoyed the film, the makeup and set design and also its musical soundtrack and for what it’s worth, it was a creepy yet fun Christmas film.
Overall,”Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a Christmas classic which was a wonderful adaptation of the popular Dr. Seuss book. Featuring a fantastic performance by Jim Carrey and young Taylor Momsen and wonderful makeup and set design, due to Carrey’s performance, it may spook young children but for adults, teenagers and older children, the film will no doubt entertain the entire family.
