The Grinch 2018
I missed this movie when it came out in 2018. Then in 2020 my sister gave me a Grinch poster from the movie, so I thought I should watch it at least. I actually bought it on sale for Black Friday, but reconsidered and took it back. Instead it was showing on Netflix. I think it was a good call. I like Dr. Suess’ story of The Grinch from both the book and the cartoon. Unfortunately the cartoon had fairly low production values on the animation despite good voices and the iconic songs. I am not sure if I saw the whole Jim Carrey live action version, but have seen some of it at least. Anyway, this movie is 3D computer animated and it does look good. It is made by Illumination who have done Despicable Me and many others, but always second fiddle to Disney. The kids in the movie are a little too human, without some of the obvious “who” features, and more diverse, which is welcome, with Keenan Thompson getting a good role. And I like that less of the movie is about the suffering of the dog, Max, pulling the huge sled around. Instead he is treated pretty well (maybe PETA wouldn’t allow him to be harmed) and the Grinch is given hints of a soft spot throughout instead of just simmering hate. That is positive, but also a little more bland. The worst is Benedict Cumberbatch using a nasally American accent when it seems like his British accent would have been better, more like Boris Karloff in the cartoon. Max is a highlight in this movie just as in the original cartoon and gets some assistance from a new reindeer character. Cindy Lou Who has a much bigger role to stretch things out, and while kind of mundane, it is still a nice angle for her and her single mother.There are a few clever additions and some decent laughs, and a nice payoff at the end of course, but it has a hard time really excelling. It is still worth watching and short enough at 86 minutes that nothing gets tired.
Written: 02 Dec 2020