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For many of us, when we were kids, those last few weeks before Christmas meant Christmas specials on TV: Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch. And while Dr. Seuss’s beloved curmudgeon has appeared in theaters before, he now gets his first full-length animated feature in Illumination Entertainment’s The Grinch.
The Grinch journeys to Whoville as the Whos are preparing for a Christmas that’s going to be three times bigger than ever before. They’re decorating their houses and singing carols and writing their letters to Santa—especially Cindy Lou Who (voiced by Cameron Seely), who has a very important request. Everyone is in the holiday spirit except for the Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch), a bitter green hermit who hates nothing more than Christmas. And, this year, he decides that he and his loyal dog, Max, will steal the Whos’ decorations and presents—and finally put an end to all their annoying holiday cheer.
Ever since How the Grinch Stole Christmas! made its TV debut in 1966, the furry green grump has been a holiday staple. And, more than 50 years later, this animated big-screen adaptation is everything that Dr. Seuss himself would have wanted it to be. It’s colorful and imaginative and delightfully cartoonish, with Seuss-style set designs and even Seuss-style narration. And its fun-filled tale builds to a heartwarming conclusion that reminds viewers that there’s more to the holiday season than just lights and presents and Roast Beast (though those things are all pretty great, too).
This latest version doesn’t add anything new or surprising—which, really, is just as it should be. The story is a beloved holiday classic—and fans of all ages might just revolt if filmmakers took too many liberties. So, as always, the Grinch in this adaptation is a comically conniving and mean-spirited creature. But, this time, he isn’t purely sinister; he’s just a guy whose anger and bitterness stem from a sad childhood and a lonely life in his cave on Mount Crumpit. Fortunately, that doesn’t make him any less of a troublemaker; it just reminds viewers that, somewhere, deep down, there’s a too-small heart that could still grow.
Meanwhile, the Grinch is surrounded by the usual cast of lovable characters—from kindhearted and clever Cindy Lou Who to sweet, longsuffering Max. And even newcomers like Fred the reindeer and incessantly cheery Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson) fit right in, making it another memorable take on the holiday classic.
With its entertaining mix of Dr. Seuss’s quirky creativity and Imagination Entertainment’s clever humor and colorful animation, The Grinch is a faithful—and entirely lovable—adaption. If your family loves this Christmas-hating rascal, plan to add it to your annual holiday viewing.
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