DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH – Review

While you’re still finding bits of the jack o’lantern in the front yard or porch, and probably still munching from the big bowl of “fun-sized” candy, Hollywood is dashing right past Thanksgiving (much like retail stores and the remaining malls) to present us with the first big Christmas themed feature film. Yes, though it’s over six weeks away the multiplex hallways will be filled with some familiar carols. And it’s an animated feature, since the end of the year is a major release time for those, too. It’s been well over a year since we’ve seen a new flick from the fine folks at Illumination, home of the DESPICABLE ME franchise along with SING and THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS. So, is this a story of the Minions getting all merry (you can just imagine their bug eyes appearing in the eggnog pitcher). No, that’s because the Universal-based animation house has a deal with the Dr. Seuss estate (going back to their 2012 treatment of THE LORAX). So Seuss and Christmas can only mean one thing: the return of that grumbling green “meanie” who despises all the icons of yule time. And now he’s come somewhat full circle. The children’s book curmudgeon was first brought to life via 2D cell animation for TV in 1966, then Ron Howard directed Jim Carrey (in terrific prosthetics and makeup from Rick Baker and his team) in a live-action feature in 2000, and now he’s back in animation, computer generated with optional 3D, with the title shortened considerably (perhaps to not give away too much of the well-known plot). The holiday tale is now simple DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH.

The story’s narrator whisks us away to the snow-covered town of Whoville as the citizens happily begin three weeks of preparation and decorating mania in anticipation of the big December holiday. Getting caught up in the frenzy is harried working (in and out of the home) single mom Donna Lou Who (voiced by Rashida Jones). As she catches a quick snooze on the trolley, someone else is just waking up. In cave inside a mountain overlooking the village resides the green, furry, ill-tempered Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch), who’s about to enjoy a breakfast served by his tiny dog, Max. But wait, the shelves and fridge are bare. Ah yes, the holidays cause him to “stress eat”. Now, he’ll have to go into town for supplies. Meanwhile, Donna is also about to have breakfast with her twin toddler boys and her pre-teen daughter Cindy Lou (Cameron Seely), who’s focused on a letter she wants to send to the North Pole, home of, ya’ know. As she dashes off to catch the letter carrier, Cindy nearly collides with the Grinch and Max. He sneers that the letter, no doubt with a huge wishlist, will be lost in Santa’s mountain of mail. Leaving the grocery store, the Grinch tries and fails to avoid the number one Whoville holiday enthusiast Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson), who believes the green guy is his best buddy. Back at his cave, the Grinch comes up with his own Christmas plans, not celebrating nor decorating, but “stealing” the happy day from the town. This just as Cindy Lou, with the help of her pals, hatches her own plan to get in her request to the jolly ole’ elf. With that December deadline approaching, the Grinch, along with his over-worked pooch, goes through his checklist (sled, costume, reindeer?), and delights in getting revenge against that magical, merry day.

For some inexplicable reason, the filmmakers have insisted that Cumberbatch, yes the definitive modern-day Sherlock (sorry Jonny Lee), perform the lead role with an American accent. Hey, his natural speech worked for Karloff over 50 years ago, so why must the “mean one” sound like he’s applying for Harvard (or any of the Ivy League)? Mind you, the right tone of snark is there in his contempt for the happy goofballs that live below him, but he sounds like a cousin of Dr. Steven Strange with a case of the “hangries”. It’s an odd choice that takes some getting used too. Fortunately, he still has a great chemistry with Thompson who brings the same zany energy to the affable, but clueless Bricklebaum that he has for the last fifteen (wow) years as a regular cast member on TV’s “Saturday Night Live”. With his bushy beard obscuring his mouth, he tosses off hilarious jokes much like the masterful Jack Mercer did as Popeye in countless cartoons (I wonder if they might have been added in post, much like Mercer did). Jones as Donna doesn’t have nearly as much fun as that duo. She’s there to be the dutiful, tired, but noble matriarch who says just the right things to encourage and inspire her daughter. As the said daughter, Seely is sweet, but not saccharine with just the correct dose of spunk without becoming obnoxious. I also couldn’t “get” the use of Pharrell Williams as the narrator with his rather listless line reading. Now maybe if Cumberbatch had told the tale in his smooth British baritone. And they bring in family film superstar Angela Landsbury for one scene as the town’s mayor? Talk about under-utilizing an extraordinary talent! that’s “Mrs. Potts” for gosh sakes!

Directors Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier have delivered a flick that’s most pleasing to the eyes with colors that pop, clever designs (I like how the tiny Whoville shops spin around to show their wares), and characters close to the original Seuss pen and ink sketches. But, as with the 2000 feature, it’s all in service to a story that was told almost perfectly in 23 minutes in 1966. Unlike the last version, we don’t delve as much into the pre-adult Grinch (here spending 12/25 all alone in an orphanage), but we get new characters that “pad’ the tale (or to sell more toys, if you want to be cynical). As I said earlier Thompson is tons o’ fun as Bricklebaum, but he doesn’t advance the plot one lick (of a candy cane). The same could certainly be said of the cohorts of Cindy (certainly much older than two, this time out). Again, more merch and maybe a chance to be more diverse. Then there’s Fred, the lone waddling, beefy reindeer with a Shemp Howard-styled orange tuft of hair. He drifts in and out of the film (because Max has to pull that big sled solo). Plus Fred helps to eliminate one of the greatest images of the story, that being the Grinch triumphantly lifting the massive, stuffed sled over his head. Yes, really! The blame can rest at the screenplay by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow (it took two), which somehow expands and simplifies the story. Now we get to see the Whovians waking to empty living rooms, along with an explanation of the holiday’s true meaning from Donna to Cindy (that singing circle is not enough). And in one tired gag, the Grinch tries to use a giant catapult (did he have one gathering dust in a corner of the cave, or is the empty Acme Company crate nearby). Oh, and we’re “treated” to a modern take (rap) on those classic, timeless Eugene Poddany tunes (you are so missed, Thurl Ravenscroft). The little ones may be amused by the flick’s first act, but their patience will be sorely tested. Though not a big lump of coal, DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH is not the upgrade that’s on anybody’s wish list.

2.5 Out of 5