# How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

### reviewed by
Frankie Paiva

    DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS     * * *

Director: Ron Howard Writers: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski Rated PG, 102 minutes

Though the vicious halls of elementary school are known as breeding grounds for cruel treatment, no teasing was as mean or strangely inane as what our green fiend experienced in his childhood. It turns out the reason the boy got so fed up with Christmas in the first place was because he lacked shaving skills. Darn those razor blades! Oh yes, you heard me correctly. The young Grinch (Jim Carrey) once attended school with sweetheart Martha May Who-vier (Christine Baranski) and future major of Whoville (Jeffrey Tambor). The little major thinks Martha's his girl, and convinces his classmates the Grinch is hairy, ugly, and stupid, but Martha May's turned off by his mean ways. The Grinch tries his hand at a razor blade to remove the unwanted hair, and appeal to Martha. He gets cuts all over his face, and is subjected to public mockery the next day, so he furiously flees town to a nearby mountain and disappears forever. He still induces fear in the townspeople.

Why take such a long time to explain this small plot detail? Because it's filler, and that's exactly what most of this movie is. Except for a few inspired new moments, this holiday family film really doesn't deserve the title of "Dr. Seuss's The Grinch", "Dr. Seuss's The Grinch...Sort Of" is more accurate.

Years after the shearing incident, the town of Whoville is preparing for the Whobilation, a grand town anniversary coinciding with Christmas. The Major keeps citizens in order, hoping the Grinch won-t swarm down from his alp lair to foil activities. He does his share to encourage anti-Grinch propaganda, but is the emerald guy really so bad? One child, Little Cindy Lou-Who (Taylor Momsen) wants to find out. Confused by the true meaning of Christmas, she seeks for good in the Grinch's two-sizes-too-small heart. What she finds will only surprise you if you've watched no television around Christmas since 1966 or read no books as a child.

But that's treating the movie too seriously and cynically. If one looks past extra patches of story, the result is quite magical. Production values are high and simply gorgeous with lush detail throughout the crazy world of Whoville. Every building has some kooky feature, and all characters a strange characteristic. You know it's a showy, flimsy film set, but it convinces as a city. In this year's Best Makeup Oscar category, makeup artist Rick Baker looks to be competing against himself. Whether his work in "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps", or the masterful job he does here will win is unsure. Regardless, he makes the movie much better than it could have been. Carrey contorts inside his extremely painful suit of lime-dyed yak hair and numerous face pieces with charming vigor. It makes for the year's most unique performance. He finds a suiting role better than his dual job in "Me, Myself & Irene". With no big contenders this year, "The Grinch" could finally mean an Oscar nomination for its star. The Whos look awesome too. They have long animal snouts, and each 90 some Who has completely different facial features. Watching a special on E! (I'm not quite above watching that network), and seeing every step taken to get the movie to feel and appear just right, it's downright amazing what they did.

Jim Carrey sings the original Grinch song with panache and no voice alteration other than the mouthpiece he already wears for the role. Among other treats include the Grinch doing a dead-on imitation of a director (presumably Ron Howard). Anthony Hopkins's key speaking role as the narrator gets handled with care and grace, an excellent choice.

Yet there's that extra story. It sticks out like a jagged icicle waiting for Sharon Stone's ice pick. Seuss's wife, who gave Howard rights for the film after waiting out for near eternity, had some control over the film. She demanded certain bathroom humor scenes be removed, a thankful thing. She apparently, however, had no power over the overall story. And what happens? The message gets muddled.

Watch the original 1966 television program before seeing the film to remind yourself as to the intention of its brilliant late author. After that, see the film. Despite its flaws, this is something you must see.

Early in the film Little Cindy's mother Betty Lou Who (Molly Shannon) is competing with Martha May in a Christmas light contest. Stringing bright lights as fast as possible with severe difficulty, Betty stops for a moment to talk with Martha about her fairly unadorned home display. Martha shows her a large Christmas light machine gun that shoots and staples illuminators to her house with stylish ease. Betty looks on, horrified. It's a classic moment in a film that could have been so.

    A film review by Frankie Paiva.
    Copyright 2000 Frankie Paiva.

See more of my reviews at http://cinemaparadise.homestead.com/mainpage.html

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