I have long heard about this character Grinch and how he hated Christmas Day. Maybe it was because it gave a negative vibe about the beloved holiday, most likely brought about by that dark live action film in year 2000 starring a grotesque green Jim Carrey, that I did not feel the need to go watch the films about it or read the original book by Dr. Seuss. This year, Illumination released a 3-D animation version of the same story again, so I relented and finally got to see what the Grinch was really all about.
The Grinch was a grouchy green creature with a heart two sizes too small who hated Christmas with a passion. One Christmas Eve, he whipped up an elaborate plan to steal the Christmas away from the jolly Whos of the town of Whoville just south of his house on Mt. Crumpit. However, that particular night, little Cindy Lou Who set up a trap for Santa Claus so that she could ask him for a special gift for her hard-working mother Donna Lou.
Thanks to the internet, I was able to review the evolution of the Grinch before writing this review. I read the children's book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss on this LINK, and watched the first animated short that aired in 1966 as a holiday TV special, featuring the voice of Boris Karloff on YouTube (LINK). The book had black and white illustrations, with only red as its color accent. It was the 1966 cartoon that made the Grinch green, while it was the 2000 film that expanded the role of Cindy Lou into a major character.
It was really the colorful artwork of this latest Illumination film that gave it a more pleasing and delightful feeling than any of the previous incarnations. The Grinch was actually cute and not at all scary to look at. The snowbound Who-ville was aglow with bright rainbow Christmas trees, lights, gifts and decorations. You can really feel the holiday cheer and excitement emanate from the screen. The Grinch's house was one nifty workshop where he created some interesting contraptions and impractical inventions. The animal characters of Max (the dog) and Fred (the fat reindeer) were likewise adorably rendered.
The voice work of the lead cast was very affecting. The voice of Benedict Cumberbatch had a depth that gave his Grinch a less villainous characterization. We saw Cameron Seely as one of P.T. Barnum's daughters in "The Greatest Showman" and now we hear her as the spirited but kind Cindy Lou Who. Rashida Jones (of "Parks and Recreation") voiced her harassed yet efficient mother Donna Lou. The legendary voice of Angela Lansbury was heard from the Mayor's lips. The narration of Pharell Williams gave a gentle and moving lilt to Dr. Seuss's rhymes.
The Christmas songs chosen were also very festive, and gave the whole film a warm spirit of nostalgia. We hear classics like "Deck the Halls" by Jackie Cooper, "My Favorite Things" by the Supremes, "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole , as well as more modern holiday tunes by Run DMC, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Buster Poindexter. A most memorable scene was that where the Grinch was trying to get away from carolers singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as sung by Pentatonix. The original song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was the only song heard in all three film versions.
Overall, I enjoyed this new interpretation of the Grinch story a lot maybe since it was the first time I actually saw the story told in full. I found this one to be the most kid-friendly and visually stimulating of all the other versions. Of course, those who grew up with the Dr. Seuss book or the 1966 TV cartoon, or even the 2000 Jim Carrey film, are sure to have their own sentimental favorites. 8/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment