How the Grinch Stole Christmas (film)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ron Howard
Produced by	Ron Howard Brian Grazer
Screenplay by	Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman
Based on	How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
Narrated by	Anthony Hopkins
Starring	Jim Carrey Taylor Momsen Jeffrey Tambor Christine Baranski Bill Irwin Molly Shannon Clint Howard
Music by	James Horner
Cinematography	Donald Peterman
Editing by	Dan Hanley Mike Hill
Studio	Imagine Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	November 17, 2000 (2000-11-17)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$123 million
Box office	$345,141,403[1]

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, also known as Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (known as The Grinch for promotional purposes), is a 2000 comedy film from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment, based on the 1966 TV special which itself is based on 1957 book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. Because the film is based on a children's picture book, many additions had to be made to the storyline to bring it up to feature-length, including some information about the backstory of the title character. Most of the rhymes used in the book were used in the film, though some were slightly changed, and new rhymes were put in as well.

Directed by Ron Howard, produced by Howard and Brian Grazer, and starring Jim Carrey, it is the first Dr. Seuss story made into a feature film. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but spent four weeks as the #1 film in the United States.

DreamWorks Pictures was originally planning to co-produce the film, but dropped out at the last minute.

The Grinch is the second highest-grossing Christmas film of all-time with $345,141,403 worldwide next only to Home Alone.

Plot

In the microscopical city of Whoville, everyone celebrates Christmas with much happiness and joy, with the exception of the cynical and misanthropic Grinch (Jim Carrey), who despises Christmas and the Whos with great wrath and occasionally pulls dangerous and harmful practical jokes on them. As a result, no one likes or cares for him.

Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen), after becoming aware of the Grinch's existence, starts to create interest in the Grinch and his history and asks everyone what they know about him, and soon discovers that he has a tragic past.

He actually comes from a mistake by a wrong wind when he was a baby, and is adopted by two ladies. Although he shows some sadistic tendencies as a child, he was not the cruel and selfish person who he became; he was ridiculed by classmates (mostly by Augustus May Who (Jeffrey Tambor)) because of his appearance - with the exception of Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski).

Cindy, touched by this story, decides to make the Grinch the main participant of the Whobilation, to the great displeasure of Augustus, who reluctantly agrees. But when she offers an invitation to the Grinch, he turns down his offer. He gradually changes his mind, however, and arrives late to the proceedings. Just as he is enjoying himself though, Augustus not only proposes to Martha in marriage, but also gives the Grinch an electric shaver as a bad joke, causing him to ruin the party and upsetting Cindy Lou.

The Grinch is pleased with his rampage, but much to his dismay, he soon realizes that his attack does not remove the spirit of Christmas from them, and that they will celebrate the commemoration of the Christmas tomorrow. Angry with the idea of spending another Christmas in his cave, the Grinch deduces that the Whos only celebrate Christmas because of their extravagant gifts, and he decides to steal all their belongings while they sleep. Creating a Santa suit and sleigh, the Grinch's burglary is successful, but he forces Max to pull all the things stolen when his flying sleigh runs out of fuel. The next day, the Whos discover the Grinch's scheme, and Augustus takes the opportunity to denounce Cindy Lou as the root of the whole catastrophe. However, her father, Lou Lou Who (Bill Irwin), reminds everyone that they still have the Christmas Spirit - the one thing that doesn't come from a store, and that the principal meaning of Christmas is to spend it with family and friends, and not about giving or receiving gifts and putting up decorations. The people accept his speech, and begin to sing.

The Grinch plots to destroy all the stolen gifts after he hears the Whos crying. However, he hears the joyful singing of the Whos. Frustrated at the failure of his plan, the Grinch realizes that Christmas means much more than mere "material gifts", an insight that profoundly touches him and makes his heart grow up three times its original size. However, the stolen gifts nearly fall off the cliff, and the Grinch desperately tries to save them. Deciding to help the Grinch, Cindy says that "nobody should be alone on Christmas". This provides the Grinch with enough strength to lift the gifts right over his head. After a long descent, the Grinch appears along with Cindy and the gifts, explains what has transpired, and apologizes for his practical jokes. The Whos forgive the Grinch, while Martha turns down Augustus's proposal and decides to stay with the Grinch. The redeemed Grinch starts a new life with the Whos, and commemorates the next Christmas with them in his cave.

Cast

• Jim Carrey as the Grinch, the title character and anti-hero, who always hated Christmas since he was an 8-year-old child. It was revealed in his origin that he started to hate Christmas after his school classmates laughed at him when he tried to shave his chin.
• Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, a young Who, who thinks the Christmas spirit in Whoville is lost, and the main protagonist. (In this version, she is about eight years old, whereas in the book and TV special, she was "no more than two").
• Kelley as Max the Dog and Frank Welker as his voice, who is the Grinch's only pet dog and companion on Mt. Crumpit. It is unknown how or when The Grinch got him.
• Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor Augustus May Who, Whoville's mayor and the main antagonist. He is revealed to be the school bully who picked on the young Grinch over his shaved chin, which motivated the Grinch to hate Christmas in the first place.
• Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier, the Grinch's lifelong crush and the romantic interest of Augustus.
• Bill Irwin as Lou Lou Who, Cindy Lou's father and the postman of Whoville.
• Molly Shannon as Betty Lou Who, Cindy Lou's mother and a rival to Martha May in a house-lighting contest.
• Clint Howard as Whobris, the mayor's aid.
• Mindy Sterling as Clarnella, the teacher.
• Jeremy Howard and T. J. Thyne as Drew Lou and Stu Lou Who, sons of Lou and Betty, and brothers to Cindy Lou.
• Jim Meskimen as Officer Wholihan, the chief of police.
• Josh Ryan Evans as an 8-year-old Grinch; his humiliation at school by Augustus is what drives him into a hatred of Christmas.
• Ben Bookbinder as an 8-year-old Augustus May Who; he ridicules the young Grinch, which then motivated the Grinch to hate Christmas.
• Landry Allbright as an 8-year-old Martha May Whovier; she shows compassion towards the young Grinch.
• Reid Kirchenbauer as an 8-year-old Whobris.
• Anthony Hopkins as the Narrator.
• Bryce Dallas Howard as a woman who surprised who.

Soundtrack

1. "Grinch 2000" - Busta Rhymes and Jim Carrey
2. "Green Christmas" - Barenaked Ladies
3. "Christmas of Love" - Little Isidore and the Inquisitors
4. "Lonely Christmas Eve" - Ben Folds
5. "Better do it Right" - Smash Mouth
6. "Whoville Medley" (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
7. "Christmas is Going to the Dogs" - The Eels
8. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - Jim Carrey
9. "You Don't Have to be Alone" - 'N Sync
10. "Where Are You, Christmas?" - Faith Hill

Reception

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a financial success at the box office, opening at #1 with a weekend gross of $55,082,230, for an average of $17,615 from 3,127 theaters. It closed on March 1, 2001 after 15 weeks with a final gross of $260,044,825 in the United States and Canada and an additional gross of $85,096,578 in other territories for a total worldwide gross of $345,141,403.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes lists the film with a 53% rating, classifying it as "Rotten", and Metacritic listed the film with a 46% rating, indicating "mixed or average reviews". The film garnered three Academy Award nominations, including Best Costume and Best Art Direction, and won the Academy Award for Best Makeup. At the Golden Globes, Carrey was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, losing the award to George Clooney for O Brother, Where Art Thou? The film won a Saturn Award for Best Music. However, it was also nominated for two 2000 Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Remake or Sequel and Worst Screenplay, losing both categories to Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and Battlefield Earth respectively.

Home media

A Blu-ray/DVD combo pack was released on October 13, 2009.

See also

• The Grinch
• The Grinch Video Game
• List of films based on Dr. Seuss books

References

1. ^ Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Box Office Mojo

External links

• Official website
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Internet Movie Database
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Box Office Mojo
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Rotten Tomatoes
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Metacritic