How THE GRINCH Scared and Delighted Me for 25 Years!

NOTE: My feelings for this movie are…complicated, as I’ve had different opinions about it over the years, but I’ll set the record straight.

I love everything about The Grinch, from the character to the story to the classic animated special. I can recite the entire book from beginning to end. So, at the age of 9, when I learned they were making a live-action version with Jim Carrey, my initial reaction was pure anxiety. Why, you may ask? Because the teaser trailer freaked me out with its thriller tone, song choice of In the Hall of the Mountain King, and the moment where Cindy Lou Who encounters the Grinch in the mailroom with a creepy close-up that has always spooked me. Every time I see a promo of the film, I avert my eyes for fear that scene will pop up. Still, a part of me was intrigued.

The day came when my mom took my siblings and me to watch the movie in December 2000. But I chickened out and walked out of the auditorium, just standing in the hall. My mom went to look for me. I told her I was scared to watch the movie for that one specific moment. But I went back inside with her anyway. As the movie began, I thought Whoville looked nice and whimsical. But then, when the Grinch was about to be introduced, I sank to the floor and cowered in the seat in front of me, like a child hiding behind the sofa when the Daleks would appear in Classic Doctor Who. I stayed on the floor until the scene I feared the most passed. I pretty much settled down and sat back in my seat. I was fine for the rest of the movie. I ended up enjoying it, as a lot of kids and fans of Jim Carrey did, despite the mixed reviews.

I watched it continuously on video, then on DVD, fascinated by the making of featurettes. I played the PlayStation game, had some of the toys, and even a book on the making of the film, though I just looked at the photos at the time. Several years later, when it was on ABC Family, I was excited to see scenes that weren’t on the DVD. I can imagine some people’s disappointment when they buy the movie and do not find the scenes they remembered seeing on TV. 

When I reached my 20s, I went into a phase where I didn’t watch the movie so often. After watching it so many times, some of the noisy moments and the crude humor got on my nerves. I’ll confess I was also influenced by the Nostalgia Critic’s negative review of the film, claiming it missed the mark on the story’s message. I consider myself a Dr. Seuss purist, so I avoided the movie like a plague and only watched the animated version. But I also aimed to be respectful and not at all snobby toward fans of the Carrey version.

Then, around 2022, something happened. Moments from the movie popped into my head, and I didn’t cringe. I found myself chuckling, replaying the moments in my head. I thought perhaps I should rewatch it. And watching it again, it felt like I had a Grinch heart growing three sizes moment. I found it entertaining again, and on top of that, I see some moments in a whole new light.

I think one reason this shift came because I found the Illumination version of The Grinch so mediocre. 

When Benedict Cumberbatch was announced as the voice of the Grinch, I was on board. He was a great choice for the character. But he does an American accent for the character!! I don’t want to ruffle feathers, but his choosing not to speak in his perfect, natural voice as the Grinch is...

His normal accent is great for storytelling, just watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. Illumination’s Grinch just felt watered down and too soft, not at all the meanie The Grinch is supposed to be.

So yeah, I’ve bounced back to the camp of liking the live-action Grinch.

I’m sorry, Nostalgia Critic. I understand your criticisms, but I find there’s much to enjoy in this film, flaws and all.

The way the movie opens with the world of Whoville in a snowflake is a very nice nod to the book, Horton Hears a Who, where Whoville existed in a speck of dust. Also, I love the fact that Jim Carrey has voiced Horton in the animated film, which I liked, too.

So, in the town of Whoville, the Whos love Christmas, of course, but in a story choice, you’re either on board or not; they get caught up in the commercialization of the holiday, obsessed with buying gifts and going all out with decorating their houses. I understand how some may find this change in the story off-putting, but I don’t mind it, as I think it works well enough for the payoff at the end.

Cindy Lou Who, played by Taylor Momsen, plays a major part in the movie as she tries to figure out if there’s more to Christmas than just buying gifts, as she ponders in her song, “Where Are You, Christmas?” She’s also curious about the Grinch and believes he’s not bad after he saves her from getting crushed by a stamping machine. She interviews people who knew him as a younger person, to the two old Who ladies who raised him, to Martha Mary Whovier, who had a crush on him, and Mayor May Who, who may be the real villain of the film. Momsen plays the part very well, and I like Cindy's whole arc.

Speaking of which, she reunited with Jim Carrey recently. It’s so nice to see the two of them together again. And from what I heard, he was protective of her. Good for Jim! She also released an EP that includes a new version of the song with her band, The Pretty Reckless. I think it rocks. Another standout song in the EP is “I Wanna Be Your Christmas Tree,” where some of the lyrics are like…WOW!

"I wanna be your Cindy Lou Who
Be my Grinch, be my Dr. Seuss..." - Taylor Momsen, I Wanna Be Your Christmas Tree

Let's move on to Jim Carrey as the Grinch. To answer the question, yes, I very much enjoy his wacky style of acting. But over the years, I’ve gone back and forth on his performance of the Grinch. Initially, despite the scary moments, I enjoyed him because it’s Jim Carrey, and his comedy appeals to lots of people. When I got older and became a Dr. Seuss zealot, I questioned Carrey’s performance, whether it was true to the character of the Grinch or, at the very least, a good interpretation. There was a period where I considered Carrey’s acting in the film, to put it like Ace Ventura, “a much too much.” But now, I can’t deny how much I truly enjoy him. His energy and lines are so irresistible to me. Absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder. So, yes, I think he gives a memorable interpretation. After much thought, it makes sense he would be nutty if he were isolated for a lot of years and having to deal with Christmas cacophony every year. 

You gotta admire Carrey’s commitment to the role, as it wasn’t easy being in the makeup. When Carrey thought about quitting, the producers brought in a Navy SEAL to give Carrey techniques for resisting torture. Carrey also said that listening to the Bee Gees was another thing that got him through the process. He really is a trooper, doing it all for the kids.

We get a backstory for the Grinch on why he hates Christmas. This is another part of the movie where I’ve gone back and forth on. On one hand, the original book and the cartoon say "no one quite knows the reason" for his hate. This movie tries to give a definitive reason, which I feel makes this latter line—"Whatever the reason, his heart or his shoes"—feel a bit redundant.

But on the other hand, there were elements in this story I think are good, like it’s lovely how these two Who ladies take in the Grinch as a baby, while others may reject him. Even as a baby and a kid, he was mischievous. But there’s a hope he can be reformed with nurturing and acceptance from others. When young Martha May shows his affection for the Grinch, he’s inspired to make her a gift. But the bullying words of young May Who, before he became mayor, made him self-conscious. He tries to shave his “beard” with a razor, resulting in getting nicks, which makes the Who kids laugh at him, even the teacher (WTH). All except Martha. This causes the Grinch to lose it and run away. Now, for the most part, Martha’s affection for the Grinch is played for laughs, but I like that there’s a genuine moment where she expresses heartbreak for the kids’ cruelty to him and his withdrawal from Who society. I also like the moment where the young Grinch is sniffling as he reaches Mt. Crumpit, showing that even though he can be mean, he’s very vulnerable at the same time. There’s a similar moment earlier on with Carrey’s Grinch as he looks lonesome in his cave.

Cindy chooses to invite the Grinch to the Whobilation, to help him be more open to the holidays. He reluctantly agrees to come down to the celebration, as there will be an award and his crush, Martha, will be present. But he still debates about going down to the celebration. Carrey delivers some good improv, like the Grinch looking over his schedule. 

"6:30, dinner with me. I can't cancel that again." - Grinch

But the following moment to me is just gold. When the Grinch asks what he should wear, he yanks a tablecloth off without anything falling off. Pretty impressive, yeah, but that wasn’t supposed to happen. So, Carrey improvises by scattering everything off the table!

Even though the Grinch finds something nice lederhosen to wear, he still can’t decide on going down to the Whobilation! Until Max pulls the rope that opens the trap door, sending the Grinch down to Whoville. 

At first, the Grinch is thrown off by the festivities and the overindulgence of eating sweets like Who Pudding, Fruit Cake, and Fudge. But, after winning the sack race, he is having a ball and feels accepted by the Whos for once. Then the Mayor had to ruin it for him with a cold gift, a razor, and to add more salt to the wound, propose to Martha May in front of him.

This causes the Grinch to go on a rant about the Whos buying gifts excessively. He brings up a good point, as he drops this truth bomb on them. He runs amok, causing chaos, and we get another good joke as he tries to hail a taxi.

Afterwards, we get to the real meat of the story as the Grinch gets the idea to dress like Santa and steal the Whos’ presents and decorations.

It pretty much plays out like in the book and cartoon. We get some touches throughout the sequence, some funny like the Grinch getting attacked by a cat…twice. And one sick moment when the Grinch makes the mayor kiss his dog's rear. Shame on you, Grinch, for letting Max get violated like that! On a sidenote, the fact that the Grinch doesn’t steal the town Christmas tree makes me think he didn’t have room in his sack, so he decides to cut off their power as one last insult.

On Christmas morning, the Whos are confused and despondent at their presents disappearing. Again, the Mayor is a @#!" to Cindy for inviting the Grinch and causing this mayhem. But her dad stands up for her as he concludes that Christmas isn’t about the external things, as everyone still has each other.

Like in the original, the Grinch is puzzled why they’re still glad without their presents. Then he has his epiphany, and I have to say this part, where the Grinch feels his heart grow three sizes and then sobs, gets me teary-eyed. It feels like he’s letting out his pain and turmoil after years of shutting himself off. And that sunrise is so beautiful with lovely music from the late, great James Horner. 

Like in the cartoon, The Grinch sees the sleigh sliding down the peak, and he tries to save them. Cindy is at the top of the sleigh as she tells the Grinch, “No one should be alone on Christmas.”  I like the idea that the Grinch finds the strength to save the sleigh when he sees Cindy in peril. Unlike the mailroom scene, where he’s reluctant to save her, he deliberately rescues her, as she doesn’t view him as a monster.

The Grinch, Cindy, and Max ride back down to Whoville. Even though I watched this movie 100 times, I’ve missed this hilarious joke:

"Outta the way! I have no insurance!" - Grinch

Luckily, Lou stops the sleigh. The Whos forgive him, and Martha returns the mayor’s ring to reject him and proclaim her love for the Grinch, much to the green one’s delight. I just love how he rubs it in the mayor’s face. 

We get a sweet moment between the Grinch and Cindy as she kisses him and feels warmth from his cheek. They all sing around the tree, and not only does the Grinch get to carve the Roast Beast, but he also has the Whos have the feast in his cave, which is a nice idea since he’s no longer alone and fully accepted by the Whos. The movie ends with a reprise of Where Are You, Christmas as we zoom out of the world of Whoville. I also get teary-eyed at this part as it's a beautiful way to wrap up the movie. 

So, in conclusion, even with the madcap antics and the crude jokes, there was no shortage of entertainment value in Jim Carrey’s performance, and the production design in this very strange but unique take on the classic story. I can understand both sides who love this movie or don't get into it. For myself, I guess I have succumbed to the madness like a lot of people who love this movie, but I found plenty of heart in it. Also, I recently got to watch the movie in the very same theater I saw it 25 years ago with a friend of mine. We had the whole theater to ourselves, and we just started quoting the movie.

So do I think this movie is the definitive version of The Grinch? Well, I wouldn't go that far as I feel the TV special does too good a job, but the movie is a close second as it delivers plenty of laughs and heart.

So, let me know, do you think this movie is a good adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss book, or do you think it’s too cringy? Anyway, have a very Merry Grinchmas!