There are some films which have become timeless over the years not only because of the iconic stories they tell, but also because of the time of the year which has become synonymous with their release. For example, it has become almost routine for us to expect superhero films from Marvel to be released in the Spring and Summer seasons.
Similarly, when it’s the holiday season, there are certain features which have made their place in our hearts and which we look forward to all year round, and one such feature is the all-time classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The original story was presented in 1957 book written by Dr. Seuss, which then became a TV special in 1966 that ran many times during multiple seasons.
But for our generation, the story was truly brought to international fame in the year 2000, when a live-action film was made starring Hollywood actor Jim Carrey in the role of the Grinch, and till date this version of the iconic Dr. Seuss story is being replayed during the holiday season as one of the core things to do around Christmas time.
Welcome the Newest Version
Now the concept of the Grinch has been re-envisioned, and the story has been re-imagined keeping in mind the younger audience, in a new animated feature simply called The Grinch. The character of the Grinch has borrowed his voice from actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and has been shown to portray somewhat sweet and sensitive character traits.
There are many cute elements in the film which are expected to appeal to both the adult and the younger audiences. For example, the film shows Max, Grinch’s dog, make French press coffee for the Grinch in the morning without fail, an idea which would greatly appeal to the imaginative minds of children. The multi-level cave shown in the movie is also an attractive visual for the kids who are bound to find the display of gizmos as well as gadgets very impressive.
Now With A Backstory
Of course, since it is an animated feature, it is bound to have a backstory of its lead character (as per norm). It is revealed to us in this animated feature that the Grinch actually grew up in an orphanage, and it is during his time there that he begins to develop a particular dislike for Christmas. Since a dislike for the holiday becomes ingrained in him as he is growing up, he loses it when he finds out that the town of Whoville has decided to increase the scale of their Christmas celebrations by almost 300%.
The rest of the story flows in a comical fashion, depicting all the ways the Grinch tries to steal Christmas. Since it’s an animated feature, anything is possible, and so James Bond-type gadgets are shown to be at his disposal, aiding him in fulfilling his mission. Helping him is his pet reindeer, who goes by the name Fred, although he looks more like a hybrid version of a mammoth and a reindeer. The character of Mr. Bricklebaum is one of our favorites, acting as the Grinch’s best friend and confronting him regarding his hair dye as a way of keeping away gray hair.
About the Animation
From a technical perspective, and if the quality of the film is to be judged from the quality of its animation, then we personally did not have any complaints with the 3-D computer animation. However, the film has received criticism from some sources for its animation; hence you may or may not like it. But, apart from that, the way the story has been presented, the dialogues, the characters, and the situations all make for a great family entertainer which people of all ages should find deeply entertaining and engaging.
In fact, if our expectations are accurate, then this film has the potential to become a recurring phenomenon in the years to come especially during the holiday season, just like the original Grinch film back in the day.