Movie Title: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Writer: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman
Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon
Review: In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen). How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a fun, entertaining take on the age-old story of The Grinch. Jim Carrey really steals the show here. His goofy expressions, mannerisms, and silly dialogue bring The Grinch to life like never before. In my opinion, Carrey was the perfect casting choice, and I have a hard time picturing anyone else playing this role. I also really like how Ron Howard was able to bring Whoville to the big screen. Any fan of Dr. Seuss knows that his books contain wild, silly, and vibrant illustrations. I think Howard did a really good job of portraying these settings in a way that made you feel like you were transported into a Dr. Seuss book. The budding frenemy dynamic between Cindy Lou Who and The Grinch is heartwarming as well, with little Cindy Lou seemingly being the only person in Whoville who isn't terrified of our green, grizzly anti-hero. The build up and backstory to The Grinch drags on a little bit in the first half of the film, but overall, I think this a quality holiday film. If you're a fan of Dr. Seuss or The Grinch, definitely check this movie out this holiday season!
Fun Fact: The scene where The Grinch is directing his dog, Max, before stealing Christmas, is Jim Carrey making fun of Director Ron Howard, imitating his style of directing. Howard found the scene hilarious, and decided to include it in the film.