by Tom Galaraga
Staff Writer
Dr Seuss’ lovable creation, the Grinch, comes to life in Ron Howard’s modern day rendition of the timeless classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Although covered by three hours of make-up and green fur, Jim Carrey’s personality is ever-present throughout the entirety of the film, and at times it seems to be a little too much.
Combined with Ron Howard’s creative intuition and Carrey’s over the top humor, the movie finds its appeal on a level that most children would be able to enjoy, however falls short of satisfying an older generation that is more familiar with the classic tale. Something seems to have been lost in the translation.
The Grinch’s drab sarcasm is further drowned out by Carrey’s own unique sense of humor, while the dark, eerie qualities that once possessed the Grinch, are lost in Howard’s bright lights and fancy set designs. Definitely not the Grinch most children grew up with. Although the movie as a whole provides enough visually, it seems to lack thematically.
Perhaps a more cynical rendition of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” would be more effective in dealing with the thematic importance that Dr. Seuss had intended. Maybe the right person for the job would have been Tim Burton of previous “Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “Edward Scissorhands” fame.
Dr. Seuss’ commentary about a commercially driven and ultimately hollow holiday seems to have been replaced with a story more fitting of an after-school special. Themes detailing Christmas as an event that goes beyond the giving and receiving of presents are replaced with special effects and elaborate explosions. Fault falling on Howard, the director.
Carrey’s portrayal of the Grinch seems to be a little too energetic to satisfy the lonely, depressed and alienated attributes that the Grinch calls for. Although backed by witty humor, Carrey fails to reinvent himself as the Grinch, and ultimately reinvents the Grinch as one of his many impressions. A typical Carrey performance.
People not interested in seeing the typical Carrey film will find themselves bored from the humor that is to be expected from him, while people wanting to see the next Carrey masterpiece, will also be disappointed with his performance.
Perhaps the Carrey/Howard combination didn’t click as well as it could have. After all, a toned down and sedated version of Jim Carrey isn’t what is to be expected from one of Hollywood’s most famous comedians.
Overall, children should beg their parents to take them to see this movie immediately. For parents, a child’s smile will be well worth the price of admission. However, for the busy college student, worry about finals.
“Maybe Christmas,” said the Grinch who stole Christmas, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, is about a little bit more.”
