Movie Review: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Live action) (2000) seen in theatres, on DVD and on multiple streaming platforms

Comedy; some scenes may be unsuitable for young children; frightening scenes, scenes which depict mild depression and a struggle for acceptance.

Everyone favourite green Christmas hating villain known as the Grinch, (played by Jim Carrey,) returns for a live action movie based on the book of the same name and the cartoon which sees the Grinch attempt to halt everybody’s cheery holiday attitude by stealing their presents, decorations and food. He is shown to be hated by everyone in the fictional town of Whoville except for a small child named Cindy Lou who attempts to lift his spirits as she maintains faith that he will one day change his ways.

This movie was an absolute classic when I first saw it in the year 2000. To be honest, I rooted for the Grinch to one day regain his Christmas spirit as I happen to agree with Cindy Lou’s declaration of the fact that nobody should be alone on Christmas no matter how much others may view someone as bad. The thing is that back in those days, (when this movie was first advertised for theatres and having seen the cartoon version of this movie prior to seeing the live action version,) it was just a good movie. I had no real opinion of it and I felt like it just passed the time at best. Then again, I was only 10 years old at the time. Fast forward 24 years later and I’m now a 34 year old man who is as big of a grinch fan as you will ever meet. I have a ton of grinch themed items in my home including a picture of the grinch that I put up over my bed, (which stays up year round,) a plaque on my door of the grinch and his dog max which also stays up year round, and I just recently bought a grinch plush toy from Canadian Tire which dances around to the grinch theme song at the push of a button on his foot. I keep this on my desk where my computer workstation is. The issue I have each year is that as much as I enjoy the grinch, I usually find myself having to make sure I will not end up like him and end up spending Christmas alone due to mom’s advancing age and health issues this year. I have not seen this movie in a few years, (at least that I can remember, actually, yes I have I saw it last Christmas,) but every year between September and October, plans are usually made by me for the upcoming Christmas. This includes what I have recently started as my tradition of putting up the tree during the first week of November. However, the fact is that I still don’t have a girlfriend or anybody other than mom to spend the holidays with. This makes me feel anxious where I will go on a similar tirade to what the grinch goes through in this movie. I will see myself destroying other’s people’s decorated property as well as believing that nobody wants to spend the holidays with me due to me living alone and mom supposedly choosing to spend the holidays alone. Earlier this year, I had one of these grinch themed moments when I misunderstood a conversation had with my brother where I believed he told me that mom didn’t want to see me this Christmas. Though very upset at this, many grinch thoughts were played over and over in my head from the movie including the scene where he breaks into everybody’s house and steals their gifts and the iconic scene of him saying that he must stop Christmas from coming. In that instance, I felt like the grinch but I did not want to feel like him because it’s clear that nobody other than Cindy Lou wanted to spend Christmas with him, a decision which almost everybody disagreed with.

One thing I enjoy about the grinch as a character is the sarcastic comparisons made by people in general as it relates to me and him. At least once throughout the year, a comparison has made made between the way we both act. This could be a bad comment I have made or a general mood I was in, (not necessarily as it relates to Christmas though.) Sometimes my dialogue and demeanor can be referenced to that of the grinch. People will say something to the effect of, “You remind me of the grinch Jeff,” ETC. This is something I don’t mind hearing though as this character is one of my idols and I think according to a lot of people, I have inherited some of his traits over the years.

Though my number one goal in life is to never be like him and have nobody to spend Christmas with, I did really enjoy this movie. I think Jim Carrey was the right choice for the role. I should also mention that this was a movie I’ve wanted to review for a while now and I’m glad I got to do it now. This movie is a classic and should be for years to come. It is definitely recommended, especially since I wake up with the same face of the grinch every morning as it seems I hate mornings as much as he hates Christmas. I can’t believe how much we have in common, (besides how we feel about Christmas,) but other than that, I think he should live with me so somebody else can complain about life more than I do and maybe call mom more than I do too.

I really enjoyed this movie.

Movie rating: 10 out of 10

Next movie review: TBD