The Grinch
If, indeed, God (or beauty or truth or what have you) is in the details, then this is the most righteous movie ever made. The cynics should go see it because Jim Carrey’s characterization of the Grinch is rich and bitter, and because it’s a happy X-mas movie, for Pete’s sake. The shiny happy people should go see it because it’s shiny and happy and also shows the absurdity of fakeness and insincerity. People like me who are obsessed with production design should see it because it is the single most visually stunning live-action film I have seen since Titanic. I said, as the credits rolled, it was total full frame perfection. If the technical Oscars aren’t all given to the Grinch this year, I will explode. Everyone else not mentioned above should go see it to support this kind of total commitment to quality filmmaking. Show the studios we love it when you give us the straight deal - commentary and hilarity, love and humor, and some great looking stuff.
Did I mention it’s funny? There is tongue in cheek humor, simple physical humor, sarcastic humor, dry humor, broad humor, Carrey humor, oh yeah! It makes the animated version look like the McLaughlin Group. But it’s not all gags and bon mots. I was genuinely moved at a point or two, and I was CRACKING UP most of the rest of the time. That is, when I wasn’t goggling in amazement at…at everything! The details! Yes, the sets are straight out of the pen of Dr. Seuss. The production team studied all his books for a vocabulary of shapes and colors, and it shows. The author’s widow not only approved the film - she was wowed by it. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, think about this: every inch of the screen is filled with little details - it’s just like a cartoon in its design simplicity, but rich, so rich! I bow to the art department!
While I was wetting my pants at the hairdo that was a pile of square packages each wrapped in ribbon, my companions noticed the cups of milk balanced on the heads of other characters. The makeup is astounding, the Grinch costume (by Rick Baker, Oscar-winning artist behind Sherman Klump’s Nutty Professor body) is a character - oh my god! I couldn’t stop saying oh my god! (My guy was quite sick of my repetitive expressions of awe an hour later, though he did agree with me.) It was like, wow, man, you know? I couldn’t, can’t describe it. I felt the same way after seeing a Cirque du Soleil show, if that helps anyone understand how amazing this was to look at. I have gotten distracted by the visuals again.
Even if you scoff at merriness or pooh-pooh at cheer, you will enjoy this film. I will own it. Midway through I wanted to see it again. It’s very sweet, but not treacly. Ron Howard was challenged by one too many people asking him (logically) why Tim Burton wasn’t directing this film. Watching it, it still has that earnest, good natured Ron Howard touch, but with a kick. His take (according to what I have read) is to take the familiar The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, make that Act 3, and start the movie with how the Grinch got that way. He does it beautifully, without being didactic or smarmy, and with a great cast. Cindy Lou Who does have a warbly, weird song, so don’t let that deter you. She does a lot of great work in the film, and deserves a moment just for her.
The great, hysterical, brilliant physical comedian Jim Carrey takes the cartoonish wiles of The Mask and the sly, Seussian view of humbugs, and makes this movie a freakin’ classic all by himself. Sure, it’s great that he has the technology to completely inhabit the Grinch and his world, but it’s all him. It’s his growlificus, whine-antsy gruffapalooza that sells his character and the film. Cindy Lou Who is all sunshine, light, sugar, ribbons, she’s a little buck-toothed cupid. They are delightful together. Damn, it’s funny. I can’t stress that enough.
Go see it. Right now! Save me a seat. Keep your eyes and your heart wide open.
*Note: After repeat viewings, I stand by my review. It is my favorite holiday movie, with everything a holiday movie needs, from heart to timelessness to swift pacing and visual feasting.
MPAA Rating PG
Release date 11/17/00
Time in minutes 120
Director Ron Howard
Studio Universal
