The Grinch
The Grinch
Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Angela Lansbury, Kenan Thompson, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams and Cameron Seely
In UK Cinemas November 9th, 2018
by Ailsa Abbott, age 6
I liked The Grinch because he gave back Christmas. The film looked Christmasy because there were Christmas trees, presents, decorations and yummy Christmas pudding. The funniest bit was when the sleigh fell off the cliff. I give this film 5 stars.
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The Grinch
Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Angela Lansbury, Kenan Thompson, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams and Cameron Seely
In UK Cinemas November 9th, 2018
by Gillian Wood, age 30-something
The Grinch is studio Illumination and Universal’s eighth fully animated release. Based on the Dr Seuss classic, the film tells the story of a disgruntled Grinch who lives alone with his dog Max in a cave on Mount Crumpet. Below him is the town of Whoville populated by Christmas obsessed Whos. As the countdown to Christmas begins, the Grinch becomes increasingly grumpy. He hates Christmas, hates that the Whos love it so much and can’t comprehend how they can be so happy and joyful around this time of year (to be fair I somewhat agreed with him….!). The Grinch hatches a full proof plan to steal Christmas from the Whos by dressing as Santa Claus and removing all the presents and decorations from their home on Christmas Eve.
The storyline is a well known tale. It pedals the idea of Christmas being a time of love and forgiveness with the Grinch’s heart eventually being won over by a little girl showing her kindness towards him. At times the film veered a little bit too much into the cliched American version of Christmas. There were several protracted heart-warming ‘I love you’ scenes and not enough made of the surrealist comedy which is prevalent throughout Dr Seuss’ books. The animation itself was visually stunning with the Grinch’s various inventions and contraptions beautifully realised. Music wise the soundtrack was fine, it had the usual Christmas mix of carols, contemporary pop tracks and layers of cello to enhance the ‘sad bits’, but again it seemed to miss a trick by not playing on the Dr Seuss surrealism. To have had a soundtrack leaning more towards the style of Carl Stalling or Raymond Scott mixed with a festive slant would have been so much more fun. There was just too much schmaltz and not enough funny.
This movie isn’t trying to be groundbreaking, it has been made for the holiday season and will easily while away a damp, rainy afternoon during the holidays. Kids will absolutely love it.
