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Not yet. In the meantime, we are having Prime Week at Amazon. For the uninitiated, that is like Amazon's own "Christmas in July" sale. For this occasion, I give you my new review:

Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch (2018)

Distributor: Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment
Director: Scott Moiser, Yarrow Cheney
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (the Grinch), Cameron Seely (Cindy Lou-Who), Rashida Jones (Donna Who), Kenan Thompson (Bricklebaum), Tristan O’Hare (Groopert), Angela Lansbury (Mayor McGerkle), Pharrell Williams (Narrator)
Runtime: 85 min.
MPAA rating: PG (brief rude humor)

It’s the holiday season in Whoville, and the Whos are eagerly anticipating Christmas. Not everyone is, though, as the grumpy, cantankerous, green-furred Grinch—who lives on top of Mt. Crumpit—hates the holidays. After he runs into a kind-hearted little girl named Cindy Lou Who, who only wants to help her overworked mother, he’s reminded of his past upbringing alone and unwanted in an orphanage. He plans to steal the Whos’ Christmas and together with his dog Max, disguises himself as Santa Claus to steal every single present and decoration. Is there a chance the Grinch may learn that there may be more to Christmas than presents, lights and songs?

I’m very sure if you had any sort of childhood, you probably grew up reading the classic 1957 children’s book, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. This book was probably one of the most recognizable children’s books by the great Dr. Seuss, and it’s status was cemented in 1966 when his friend Chuck Jones (of Looney Tunes fame) directed the iconic TV special that starred Boris Karloff as the iconic Christmas curmudgeon. To this day, it remains one of four Christmas specials from the 1960s to still be played on network TV during the Christmas season, the other three being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

As time went on, we would see another adaptation in the year 2000 as a live-action film that was directed by Ron Howard and starred Jim Carrey as the Grinch, the first live adaptation of one of Dr. Seuss’s stories. Despite mixed critical reviews, it was highly profitable, being the second-highest grossing Christmas movie of all time, after Home Alone. Still having the rights to the Dr. Seuss properties (and knowing a lot of money can be made off it), the decision was made to do another film adaptation of the story. If we can have remake after remake after remake of A Christmas Carol, why not? And is there anyone more qualified than Illumination Entertainment? You know, the animation studio that does movies that will sell themselves, and with a big marketing push from Universal, can let the money roll in? You know, like what they originally did with The Lorax?

If you know me, Christmas is my time to shine. In fact I happen to have a very high opinion of the original Chuck Jones cartoon so this new version would have some high standards to live up to. Whether the reviews are nice, like how most Illumination movies tend to be or maybe a little weaker, there was bound to be an audience. Always being up for a new Christmas adventure (provided it’s not meant to be blasphemous), here we go.

Much like The Lorax before it, the team at Illumination was tasked with taking a short story and padding it a full feature. The results? Eh, about the same. For one, you probably know the story. The Whos in Whoville adore Christmas but the Grinch can’t stand it. When they go bigger, as in 3 times bigger, the Grinch schemes to jump in and steal all the presents and holiday decorations on Christmas Eve. Why does he do this? Well, in the past, he was an orphan that never had any sort of family to celebrate the holidays with and if he can’t love Christmas, no one can.

That’s pretty much it narratively. The original Chuck Jones cartoon only ran for about a half-hour but that was all it needed to work; that TV special had just enough material for one half-hour only. Narratively the story, despite having a bunch of padding, still feels lightweight, but you aren’t really left wanting anything else. The movie does have some tangents that it goes on, but it’s all pointless and adds nothing to the story you cared about in the first place; the movie does nothing to add anything you haven’t seen. Well, I guess it adds to the runtime and helps to make jokes to get the kids laughing, but that’s it. And if the wittiest joke is a syrup bottle that sounds like farting, you know who the movie is meant for.

Visually, the movie’s animation is impressive. It’s still faithful to the original book that Dr. Seuss was known for without trying to look like it’s emulating the Chuck Jones cartoon or the Jim Carrey movie. Whoville at Christmastime is truly… pardon the pun, “Illuminated”. I do love seeing a wide assortment of lights and décor on buildings and trees as it really helps put someone in a festive mood. However, I do have some things that should be discussed, as that Illumination animation does feel a bit intrusive on them. I had no trouble with how the Grinch looked save for some details you’ll hear about, but with some characters, Cindy Lou-Who ends up owing a bit of her design to Agnes from the Despicable Me movies, and Max looks like he could have been an extra on The Secret Life of Pets. Still, the movie’s best aspect is the animation.

Now, you probably know the characters, having what I imagine is your history with them. The Grinch, you know, the titular raison d’etre, is as you’d probably expect. He’s a Christmas grouch who is fed up with the holidays and wants to put an end to it. His lines, as you would expect from Benedict Cumberbatch is quite good and helps make the movie distinct, he won’t make you forget about Boris Karloff or Jim Carrey but he’s probably the best character. However, I will add that while they respected the wishes of Audrey Geisel and didn’t include any toilet jokes, some aspects of him feel off, like how the movie at one point recites the iconic “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”. I will say, he’s got some awfully nice teeth for someone who’s said to have termites in it. Cindy Lou Who was expanded on in this movie, but seems a little more obnoxious than how Taylor Momsen originally characterized her. She has a goal she wants to achieve for this holiday season, but for reasons you’ll hear about, well keep reading. Max the dog is again the Grinch’s most loyal companion, almost like he’s the Grinch’s better half, and that’s the extent of his character.

Notice I’m not saying anything about Cindy Lou Who’s mom, or Cindy Lou Who’s friends, or Bricklebaum, or the Mayor, or the fat yak, or any others. These extra characters are all cyphers and they add nothing to the narrative. As noted, their only purpose is to help pad out the runtime and/or add jokes. The only other character, I guess, would be the Narrator. Pharrell Williams, who you probably know as the singer of “Happy” from Despicable Me 2, reads his lines with the type of comical zing expected from Illumination, but still seems like he’s meant to be a hipster that is just unlike the original readings that Boris Karloff originally gave. So needless to say, the characters are a mixed bag.

The 2018 Grinch does nothing to change the idea that a short story is not the best source material to adapt into a feature film, much less one that is so cherished as the original Grinch. Still, it’s harmless and kids will dig it, being that it’s the Grinch and one that is full of Christmas cheer, which is enough of a draw for them. The original Chuck Jones cartoon will always be the definitive version, but I suppose this one turned out okay. At least I would choose this over The Lorax?



Dr. Seuss's The Grinch (2018)
TreyVore rates it: C

I don't know about that. Compare that to how much money Despicable Me/Minions has been pulling in.

A recent report stated that they are one of the highest-grossing CG-animated film series. It makes more money than Shrek, more than Ice Age, even more than Toy Story!

I did enjoy Minions: Rise of Gru.

It did give a bunch of laughs and sent some nice messages.

It does feel like this franchise is just about out of gas, but had enough for one more.

I may have a contender!

Animation is life after all.

Random Fact #4468:

On an interview for Rotten Tomatoes, Jenny Slate gave her 5 favorite movies. They are:

Small Change (1976)
Home Alone (1990)
Spirited Away (2001)
Charade (1963)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Why would it need his Seal of Approval for it to be good?

On a side note, Minions: Rise of Gru is also looking good, with a current RT score of 70%.

Random Fact #4465:

Archie Comics's Sonic the Hedgehog comic book, made to tie-in with the 1993 cartoon series Sonic SatAM and ran from 1992 until 2017 when they lost the rights to IDW, is currently the most successful video game inspired comic book.

I just saw the movie myself and I did enjoy it.

And okay. I may have been a bit hasty; it could make my Best List yet.

And yes, I think I may have liked it better than Turning Red.