Other Titles • How the Grinch Stole Christmas • Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas • The Grinch • Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Synopses for How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
1.
Under a thick carpet of green-dyed yak fur and wonderfully expressive Rick Baker makeup, Jim Carrey is up to all of his old tricks (and some nifty new ones) in this live-action movie of Dr. Seuss's holiday classic. He commands the title role with equal parts madness, mayhem, pathos, and improvisational genius, channeling Grinchness through his own screen persona so smoothly that fans of both Carrey and Dr. Seuss will be thoroughly satisfied. Adding to the fun is a perfectly pitched back-story sequence (accompanied by Anthony Hopkins's narration) that explains how the Grinch came to hate Christmas, with a heart "two sizes too small." Ron Howard proves a fine choice for the director's chair with a keen balance of comedy, sentiment, and light-hearted Seussian whimsy. Production designer Michael Corenblith gloriously realizes the wackiness of Whoville architecture, and his rendition of the Grinch's Mt. Crumpit lair is a marvel of cartoonish, subterranean grime. Then there's Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), the thoughtful imp who rallies her village to recapture the pure spirit of Christmas and melts the gift-stealing Grinch's cold, cold heart. You've even got a dog (the Grinch's good-natured mongrel, Max) who's been perfectly cast, so what's not to like about this dazzling yuletide movie? The production gets a bit overwhelmed by its own ambition, and the citizens of Whoville (including Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, and Bill Irwin) pale in comparison to Carrey's inspired lunacy, but who cares? If a movie can unleash Jim Carrey at his finest, revamp the Grinch story, and still pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Seuss, you can bet it qualifies as rousing entertainment. (Ages 5 and older.) --Jeff Shannon
Additional features The best of the half-dozen short segments on The Grinch DVD mirrors the best part of the movie itself, namely Rick Baker's Oscar®-winning make-up. Baker and star Jim Carrey are such interesting personalities that their stories about the time-consuming process are entertaining. For the kids, Max's Playhouse has some simple games and three sing-alongs. How interesting you find the rest of the extras will depend on how much you liked the film. An unhosted segment on deleted scenes is nothing special, and the segment on how the movie extras, including members of the Cirque de Soleil, worked on their bits could have been far longer. Trying to match the movie's scale, the DVD even boasts recipes. --Doug Thomas
2.
Director Ron Howard casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role in this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, giving this rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a delightfully manic spin. Carrey is virtually unrecognizable in his elaborate green makeup, but his anarchic comic touch is unmistakable. He manages to fully embody the grumpy title character, while still supplying his own comedic touches, and it is his performance that makes the film a treat for adults and children alike. The candy-colored set design for the town of Whoville and the jubilant score contribute to the overall feeling of innocuous fantasy that the Grinch disrupts with his dastardly deeds. The familiar story of the Grinch stealing every present in town on Christmas Eve has been expanded to incorporate flashbacks to the Grinch's childhood, which serve to explain his hostility toward the Whos. As Cindy Lou-Who, a little girl so sweet she sees goodness even in the Grinch, young Taylor Momsen strikes just the right note of adorable ingenuousness. Howard gets the performance the film needs from her, as her character makes the Grinch's eventual change of heart both believable and touching.
3.
Inside a snowflake, high atop Mt. Crumpit, just north of town, a certain cave-dwelling curmudgeon peers down on the Christmas-adoring Whos of Whoville as they make their frantic Yuletide preparations. And this isn't your run-of-the-mill sourpuss. This is the Grinch (Jim Carrey), and he is positively sick of those nog-sucking cheermongers.
Why is the Grinch so, well.. so Grinchy? Nobody knows, not even his lone companion, the endlessly oppressed canine, Max. It could be because his head wasn't screwed on just right; or maybe his shoes were too tight; or because his heart was two sizes too small.
But with an expression that goes from glum to glummer and then to a malevolent lip-curling grin as a wicked lightbulb clicks over his head.. .a wonderful, awful idea is born. Christmas is back and the Grinch plans to do something about this annoyingly-happy holiday.. .once and for all.
So the Grinch dons a disguise and pays a visit to Whoville, bringing them a bit of his own special Christmas grinching. During his sortie into Whoville he encounters little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), lone among the Whos in that she harbors serious Yuletide doubts, thinking everyone is all kerbobbled over the shopping and hoopla and wondering about the real meaning of Christmas. Her father, the befuddled postmaster Lou (Bill Irwin) is not much help to Cindy—her Mom Betty, (Molly Shannon), is totally immersed in her quest to beat Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski) in the Whobilation lighting competition.
So Cindy decides to take matters into her own hands, trying to find out everything she can about the Grinch: Who he is, why he doesn't like Christmas and why he is held in such utter contempt. Her innocent questions turn Whoville upside down since anything to do with the Grinch is considered blasphemous behavior by Mayor May Who (Jeffrey Tambor).
But ultimately, these two kindred spirits—one searching for just one thing meaningful from the yuletide holiday, and the other unearthing a part of his soul long ago buried and forgotten—will come together, and collectively learn the true meaning of Christmas.
4.
The classic celebration of the spirit of the holidays comes home. Acclaimed director Ron Howard, his longtime partner and producer Brian Grazer, plus Jim Carrey (as the Grinch) brings Dr. Seuss' beloved tale to life in this adventure "that can make your heart grow three sizes - if you're not laughing too hard!" (Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
With dazzling scenery and special effects, narration by Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins and Jim Carrey's own rendition of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," this gift from the heart is a "holiday package that kids will embrace and parents will adore" (Philip Wuntch, Dallas Mourning News).
5.
Introducing the First-Ever DVD Interactive Play Set!
From the classic Dr. Seuss book comes this live-action tale of the Who-hating Grinch living high atop Mt. Crumpit and his wonderful, awful idea to steal Christmas right out from under the noses of the Whos of Whoville.
This one-of-a-kind play set features The Grinch Collector's Edition full-length movie on DVD. Open up this amazing 3-D pop-up world of Whoville and be transported inside three spectacular scene recreations, including "The Grinch's Lair," "The Whoville Post Office" and "Christmas Mourning in Whoville Square."
6.
Jim Carrey is up to all his old tricks (and some nifty new ones) in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, a live-action film of Dr Seuss's holiday classic. Under a thick carpet of green-dyed yak fur and wonderfully expressive Rick Baker makeup, he commands the title role with equal parts madness, mayhem, pathos and improvisational genius, channelling Grinchness through his own screen persona so smoothly that fans of both Carrey and Dr Seuss will be thoroughly satisfied. Adding to the fun is a perfectly pitched back-story sequence (accompanied by Anthony Hopkins's narration) that explains how the Grinch came to hate Christmas, with a heart "two sizes too small". Ron Howard proves a fine choice for the director's chair with a keen balance of comedy, sentiment and light-hearted Seussian whimsy. Production designer Michael Corenblith gloriously realises the wackiness of Whoville architecture, and his rendition of the Grinch's Mt Crumpit lair is a marvel of cartoonish, subterranean grime. Then there's Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), the thoughtful imp who rallies her village to recapture the pure spirit of Christmas and melts the gift-stealing Grinch's cold, cold heart. You've even got a dog (the Grinch's good-natured mongrel, Max) who's been perfectly cast, so what's not to like about this dazzling yuletide movie? The production gets a bit overwhelmed by its own ambition, and the citizens of Whoville (including Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon and Bill Irwin) pale in comparison to Carrey's inspired lunacy, but who cares? If a film can unleash Jim Carrey at his finest, revamp the Grinch story and still pay tribute to the legacy of Dr Seuss, you can bet it qualifies as rousing entertainment. (Ages five and older.) --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com.
On the DVD: You'd be hard pushed to cram any more special features on to this disc: as well as four deleted scenes, there's over an hour of behind the scenes featurettes. From a documentary about the stunts, the Oscar-winning make-up and how the team visually translated Dr Suess' festive tale to the screen, to a segment on the visual effects and CGI, allowing you to follow the filmmaker's process from beginning to end. And just when you think you have filled up on Grinchy extras there's another menu with the cinema trailer, "Wholiday" recipes, statistics about the film, cast and crew biographies, a trailer for the PlayStation game and the Faith Hill music video "Where are you Christmas". In a bid not to exclude the kids in this DVD bonanza, the Grinch's canine chum takes you through "Max's Playhouse" including interactive games and music, Dress the Grinch, a read-along story and a rhyming game. The candy-cane colours of the Christmas-obsessed town of Whoville shine brightly in anamorphic widescreen; the Dolby 5.1 Soundtrack will fill your house with festive cheer; and the intelligent commentary from Ron Howard give you some great behind the scenes info. --Kristen Bowditch
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