Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (film)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ron Howard
Produced by Brian Grazer
Ron Howard
Screenplay by Jeffrey Price
Peter S. Seaman
Based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by
Dr. Seuss
Starring Jim Carrey
Jeffrey Tambor
Christine Baranski
Bill Irwin
Molly Shannon
Narrated by Anthony Hopkins
Music by James Horner
Cinematography Donald Peterman
Edited by Dan Hanley
Mike Hill
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
 November 17, 2000
Running time
 104 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $123 million[1]
Box office $345.1 million[1]

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (promoted theatrically as The Grinch) is a 2000 American musical fantasy comedy Christmas film from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment, based on the 1957 story of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It was the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film. Because the film is based on a children's picture book, many additions had to be made to the storyline to bring it up to feature-length, including some information about the backstory of the titular character. Most of the rhymes used in the book were used in the film, though some were slightly changed, and new rhymes were put in as well. The film was directed by Ron Howard, produced by Howard and Brian Grazer, and starring Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon and introducing Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, but spent four weeks as the number-one film in the United States. The Grinch is the highest-grossing holiday film of all time[2] with $345,141,403 worldwide.[1] It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, and was also nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

Plot

In the city of Whoville, everyone celebrates Christmas with much happiness and joy, with the exception of the cynical and misanthropic Grinch (Jim Carrey), who despises Christmas and the Whos with great wrath and occasionally pulls dangerous and harmful practical jokes on them. As a result, no one likes or cares for him. Meanwhile, the postman's daughter, Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen), who is six years old, believes everyone is missing the point about Christmas by being more concerned about the gifts and festivities. After finding him mixing up the mail in the post office, Cindy Lou becomes interested in the Grinch and his history, asking everyone what they know about him, and soon discovers that he has a tragic past.

The Grinch actually arrived in Whoville by mistake when he was a baby, and was adopted by two elderly sisters. Although he showed some sadistic tendencies as a child, he was not the cruel and selfish person he later became; he was ridiculed by classmates (particularly by Augustus May Who, the current Mayor of Whoville) because of his green and hairy appearance, with the exception of Martha May Whovier, who was courted by both the Grinch and May Who. One Christmas season, he made a gift for Martha, but attempted to shave his face, cutting himself and opening himself to the ridicule of his classmates. He lost his temper, wreaked havoc in the classroom, and ran away to live on Mt. Crumpit. He never returned home, and became an urban legend due to brief sightings.

Cindy Lou, touched by this story, decides to make the Grinch the main participant of the Whobilation, to the great displeasure of Mayor May Who, who reluctantly agrees after pressure from the townspeople, who have been warmed by Cindy Lou's generous spirit. When Cindy Lou goes to Mt. Crumpit and offers an invitation to the Grinch, he turns her down. He gradually changes his mind, however, due to the promise of an award, the presence of Martha at the celebration and the chance to upset the Mayor. He arrives late to the proceedings, but is forced to participate in the celebration. Just as the Grinch is enjoying himself and is almost won over, May Who gives him an electric shaver as a present, reminding him of his humiliation at school and angering him. May Who then asks Martha to marry him, promising her a new car in return. This and the ensuing laughter from all the Whos causes the Grinch to openly criticize the Whos for thinking that Christmas is about gifts that they will just dispose of later, in the hopes of making them too ashamed to celebrate the holiday. He then goes on to ruin the party and upset Cindy Lou.

When he realizes his attack has not removed the spirit of Christmas from the Whos, the Grinch becomes outraged, and concocts a plan to steal all of their presents while they sleep. Creating a Santa suit and sleigh, the Grinch flies around Whoville, stealing all of the Whos' Christmas gifts. He is almost discovered by Cindy Lou, but concocts a lie that allows him to get away. The next day, the Whos discover the Grinch's scheme, and May Who denounces Cindy Lou as the root of the catastrophe. However, her father, Lou Lou Who, finally stands up to him and reminds everyone that they still have the Christmas Spirit and that the principal meaning of Christmas is to spend it with family and friends. The people accept his speech and begin to sing. Hoping that the change of mood would inspire the Grinch, Cindy Lou goes to Mt. Crumpit to find him.

The Grinch reveals that he intends to destroy all of the stolen gifts after he hears the Whos crying. However, instead of crying, he hears the joyful singing of the Whos. Frustrated at the failure of his plan, the Grinch realizes that Christmas means much more than material gifts, an insight that profoundly touches him and causes his heart to grow to three times its original size. When the stolen gifts begin to fall off the cliff, the Grinch desperately tries to save them to no avail. However, when he realizes Cindy Lou has come to wish him a merry Christmas and is in danger of falling off the cliff with the sleigh, the Grinch finds enough strength to lift the sleigh, gifts and Cindy Lou to safety. After a long descent down Mt. Crumpit, the Grinch returns to Whoville with Cindy and the gifts. He confesses to the burglary and apologizes for his actions towards the Whos, who reconcile with the Grinch. Martha turns down May Who's proposal and decides to stay with the Grinch instead. The redeemed Grinch starts a new life with the Whos, and commemorates the Christmas feast with them in his cave.

Cast

Soundtrack

  1. "Kids Today" – Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen *
  2. "Grinch 2000" – Busta Rhymes and Jim Carrey
  3. "Green Christmas" – Barenaked Ladies
  4. "Christmas of Love" – Little Isidore and the Inquisitors
  5. "Lonely Christmas Eve" – Ben Folds
  6. "Grinch Schedule" – Jim Carrey *
  7. "Better Do It Right" – Smash Mouth
  8. "Whoville Medley" (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch) – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  9. "Reindeer" – Jim Carrey *
  10. "Christmas Is Going to the Dogs" – The Eels
  11. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" – Jim Carrey
  12. "Christmas Means More" – Anthony Hopkins and Jim Carrey *
  13. "You Don't Have to Be Alone" – *NSYNC
  14. "Where Are You, Christmas?" – Faith Hill
  15. "The Shape of Things to Come" – James Horner
  16. "Memories of a Green Childhood" – James Horner +
  17. "Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?" – James Horner and Taylor Momsen
  18. "Stealing Christmas" – Anthony Hopkins, James Horner, Jim Carrey, and Taylor Momsen ~
  19. "The Big Heist" – James Horner +
  20. "Does Cindy Lou Really Ruin Christmas?" – James Horner +
  21. "A Change of Heart" – James Horner +
  22. "The Sleigh of Presents" – James Horner +
  23. "He Carves the Roast Beast" – James Horner ^

Legend:
*Dialogue
+ Instrumental
~ Includes Narration and Dialogue
^ Includes "Welcome Christmas"

Reception

Box office

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a financial success at the box office, opening at number-one with a weekend gross of $55,082,230, for an average of $17,615 from 3,127 theaters and staying at #1 for a total of 4 weeks. It closed on April 30, 2001, after five months, with a final gross of $260,044,825 in the United States and Canada and an additional gross of $85,096,578 in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $345,141,403.[1]

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, criticizing the script, but Jim Carrey's performance as the Grinch was widely praised along with the make up effects, costume design and art direction. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film with a rating 53%, with the critical consensus reading, "Jim Carrey shines as the Grinch. Unfortunately, it's not enough to save this movie. You'd be better off watching the TV cartoon."[3] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 46 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[4]

Roger Ebert criticized the film, referring it as "a dank, eerie, weird movie about a sour creature who lives on top of a mountain of garbage, scares children, is mean to his dog, and steals everyone's Christmas presents," and saying, "There should be...a jollier production design and a brighter look overall... It's just not much fun."[5]

Awards

The film garnered three Academy Award nominations, including Best Costume Design (Rita Ryack) and Best Art Direction, and nominees Rick Baker and Gail Ryan won the Academy Award for Best Makeup. At the Golden Globes, Carrey was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, losing the award to George Clooney for O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The film won a Saturn Award for Best Music. However, it was also nominated for two 2000 Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Remake or Sequel and Worst Screenplay, but lost to Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and Battlefield Earth respectively.

Home media

The film was released on VHS and DVD on November 20, 2001. A Blu-ray/DVD combo pack was released on October 13, 2009.

Remake

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have announced they are working on a computer-animated remake of the film. Peter Candeland is set to direct, following the remake to The Cat in the Hat, with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri producing and Audrey Geisel, widow of Dr. Seuss author Theodor Geisel, will executive produce.[6][7] It will be released on November 17, 2017.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Box Office Mojo
  2. ↑ "Arts & Media". Guinness World Records 2007. Guinness World Records Limited. 2006. p. 182 (UK edition). ISBN 1-904994-11-3.
  3. ↑ "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Metacritic. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ Roger Ebert review,
  6. ↑ "'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Remake in the Works at Universal - Hollywood Reporter". M.hollywoodreporter.com. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  7. ↑ Gallagher, Brian (2013-02-07). "'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' Animated Remake Coming from Universal Pictures". Movieweb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  8. ↑ "Universal Dates 'Despicable Me 3,' New 'Grinch Who Stole Christmas'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2014-01-16.

External links

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