The version of Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas that features Jim Carrey is a brilliant retelling of the children’s favorite animated Christmas tale. Carrey plays the Grinch, the one who hates Christmas and despises all of the residents of Whoville.
But what this movie does differently than the original animated story is that it has scenes that go backward in time. These scenes are used in order to show the viewers exactly who the Grinch was as a baby and then a child and how he turned into the creature who had such a deep hatred toward the Christmas season.
By doing this, the movie gives a peek into the character Carrey portrays and that helps make him more likeable. You see that he didn?t always hate Christmas, but started to after being bullied over his homemade Christmas gift. He?s also bullied about his appearance.
The movie opens with four of the Who kids, two boys and two girls walking toward the Grinch’s lair. One of the girls sort of dares one of the boys to touch the Grinch?s door and when he balks and looks frightened, she asks him to do it for her. What happens next is pretty hilarious and sets the stage for some of Carrey?s over the top acting that he does so well.
When the door opens, it’s Max attached to a huge, frightening creature. He’s barking furiously and the sound is magnified through the voicebox of this hideous being. It frightens the Who kids and they all go tumbling back down the mountain.
The scene pans to the Grinch chewing on an onion that he later uses as deodorant. The Grinch plays pranks and commits acts of vandalism when he shows up in town in disguise. The comment is made about the Grinch?s head not being screwed on just right, which is proven by his giving kids a sharp saw and telling them to run with it.
At one point in the movie, there?s an adorable scene between the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who where he tries to frighten her away and ends up exhausting himself with the effort. There’s a funny moment when the Grinch looks at the camera and comments about kids today and the violence in television and movies.
When he causes chaos at the town Christmas celebration and sets the tree on fire, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. This is one of Jim Carrey’s best acting roles and you?ll love and laugh with the characters of Whoville.
The movie delivers the message of what Christmas is all about ? it’s not about gifts and decorations and feasts. It?s about those we love and being thankful for all of the blessings that we have.
