As Christmas rolls around, directors and viewers alike begin the season of enjoying new and redone holiday movies. Illumination Studios’ 3-D animated “The Grinch,” released on Nov. 6, is a combination of these — a new take on a classic story.
“The Grinch” has been a classic since the book was released by Dr. Seuss in 1957. The original animated movie aired in 1966 as a TV movie called “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Since the original, there have been several remakes, but the main plot of each remains the same. Having a rough childhood as an outcast due to his green body, the Grinch tries to ruin Christmas for the citizens of WhoVille. He tries to steal all the children’s presents and ruin the holiday for the citizens of Whoville who deserted him, but his plans go awry when one of those children, Cindy Lou Who, reminds him of Christmas cheer.
In the 2018 animated version, directors Yarrow Cheney and Scott Moiser enlist Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch and Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who.
The result is that the movie is not groundbreaking but still enjoyable. The visuals are engaging and colorful, and the movie is suitable for younger audiences since there are no scary, offensive, political or troubling scenes like in the other remakes. For example, in the 2000 remake, the directors show the Grinch abusing his dog Max and manhandling him. In this remake, all the elements of the original book are there, but the story is told in such a way that draws empathy to every character.
I didn’t really like how the movie was all cartoon and had really clean humor, since it gave it more of a childish feel in comparison to the 2001 version with Taylor Momsen, which featured live action characters and a more dark sense of humor toward the grinch.
However, I really did enjoy that the movie successfully portrayed the true meaning of Christmas: not thinking only about presents for yourself but making wishes for others. In the movie, the Grinch makes amends for his previous ways and becomes a better “person.” The townspeople learn to forgive him and he is included in the local community for the first time in life. That message made the movie heartwarming and enjoyable to watch.
