There was something about the new version’s take on the heart-warming scene, the one in which the Who’s down in Whoville sing and hold hands, blowing the Grinch away with the power of Christmas and love - that just made me tear up. I know how the story of the Grinch goes and by no means should it take me off guard.ĭisclaimer: I am a regular movie crier, but I’ve never ever cried while watching a Grinch movie. Seuss book and I’ve listened to the Thurl Ravenscroft song when it’s pumped on the radio every cheery holiday season (sidebar: the Tyler the Creator cover produced for this movie slaps). Īt this point in my life, I’ve seen the original 1966 Grinch animated film every year of my elementary school life, and bits and pieces of the 2000 Jim Carrey movie when it plays 800 times during on television during Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” marathon. I’m not usually a holiday naysayer by any means, but about half-an-hour into the movie I was hit with the revelation: Oh shit, the Grinch is me. He only leaves when he needs to get groceries, dreading human interaction. He talks about self-isolating himself because it’s better that way that hits close to home. He makes jokes about emotionally overeating to deal with his problems we nod. He complains about the consumerism and greed of the holiday season we chuckle. Projecting onto the Grinch is even easier thanks to simple backstory. Instead, the reason for his jaded view of the holiday is simple: he grew up in an orphanage and was jealous of everyone’s family warmth during Christmas. Unlike the 2000 Jim Carrey version, this Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) isn’t burdened by a convoluted ( shaving?) origin story. This month’s The Grinch, from animation studio Illumination, is the standard Dr. But while watching yet another retelling of The Grinch may seem like a nostalgic violation, there’s something about this CG-animated tale that feels familiar and comforting - as well as unexpectedly vulnerable. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who never read the book and or watched the movie(s) or shook their head at the silly grumpy Grinch who just doesn’t understand the magic of Christmas (and the general holiday season) the way that we do.Īdults often find ourselves sympathizing with the Grinch as the repetitive nature of the holiday season plays out once again: jolly elves, presents, speciality holiday lattes, all that holly and tinsel in an effort to mask the realities of the world around us. The story of how the Grinch stole Christmas is embedded into the American holiday tradition just as much - if not more - as the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Rudolph and even Santa Claus.
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