Words By: Anna Mengani

Christmas is a month away so we must start preparing. Movies are always a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit! With Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch, get ready for a humorous and cute Christmas!

The Grinch has been a cult classic for a long time. Many know the shorts from 1966 that are always on during November and December — or perhaps from Jim Carrey’s iconic live action How The Grinch Stole Christmas from 2000. Now, the next generation gets to experience a Christmas icon in the modern animated version. This version gives audiences the opportunity to see the grumpy Grinch in a new light. The movie comes off as really cute with similar animation to The Lorax and Despicable Me. 

The Grinch is a traditional story to tell, with the modern touch gets everyone into the Christmas spirit. For those who are not familiar with the tale, the Grinch and his dog Max live alone inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. The Grinch gets provoked by his neighbors in Whoville during the holidays. Every time the Grinch tries to relax, one of his neighbors ruins it. With the help of Max, the Grinch tries to steal Christmas.

The Grinch determines while the people of Whoville are singing Christmas carols, he must stop Christmas. The movie has a lot more humor than the original shorts and movie. While the Grinch is seeking his revenge after playing the organ, he works out while listening to “Boogie” by the popular group Brockhampton. The original shorts and movie show the Grinch almost a complete villain. You don’t feel bad for him, and if anything you cheer more for the Whoville citizens. You question where his empathy is, and why he doesn’t join the festivities. Nobody really cheers on the Grinch, and the only likable antagonist is technically the dog. However, the animated version is a worthwhile new perspective. The audience receives a cute, more relatable version of the Grinch.

When the Grinch meets Cindy Lou, the cute little girl in the neighborhood, he reconsiders his revenge. He goes stealing out Christmas trees, and Cindy starts blaming herself for it. She wonders what made him so mad. While he watched Cindy and the people of Whoville sing, he learned how to emphasize. He experienced joy during the Christmas season. The Grinch tells everyone his reason for stealing Christmas was trying to fix something that happened a long time ago. After apologizing, he gives a toy to Max and receives a present from Cindy Lou.

As the Grinch learns to enjoy Christmas and celebrate with his town, he is shown love. In reality, he hated being alone during the holidays. While we prepare for the holidays, remember to celebrate with the ones you love. Have a wonderful holiday season!

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