Who's
In It: Jim Carrey, Clint Howard Who Directed It: Ron Howard
Year
of release: 2000
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Movie Review Reviewed
by: Adam Mast, Zboneman.com
Right
out of the gate, let me make something perfectly clear. I'm a big fan of Ron Howard
and I catch a lot of crap from my friends because of it. They think that the majority
of his films are pretentious and sappy. I think that most of Howard's films are
quite moving, and his style is very reminiscent of Steven Spielberg. With films
like Cocoon, Parenthood, and Apollo 13, this guy has done a lot to put the Happy
Days/ Andy Griffith image behind him.
Adapting
material like The Grinch, was probably no easy task. Unfortunately, it is the
screenplay where this film ultimately fails. What there is of a screenplay, anyway.
We're all pretty familiar with the story. There is this greenie meanie who lives
high in the mountains on the edge of cheery Whoville. It seems that he can't stomach
the Christmas season, so he attempts to thwart the holiday from coming.
What
Ron Howard and his team of writers have attempted to do, is create a history.
Why is the Grinch the way he is? This is where the film falls into the realm of
conventional storytelling. It could be argued that Howard is going for simplicity,
but in the end, most of this film lacks spark and that endearing Christmas feeling
your supposed to get while watching this film. Much of the picture is surprisingly
dull.
Jim Carrey
is actually a big part of the problem. This guy has proven to be a talented force
in Hollywood and he should receive kudos for the conditions for which he's working
under in this film. The fact is, this never really feels like the Grinch. It feels
like Jim Carrey doing the Grinch! Carrey's Grinch is nothing but a hybrid of his
past characters. Some engaging (The Mask), and some downright annoying (Ace Ventura).
The bottom line is, Carrey can't seem to embody the spirit of the Grinch that
we know from the beloved perennial classic.
Carrey's
Grinch is a cartoon character that snaps off rapid fire dialogue and bounces off
the walls with unlimited, manic energy. I always thought of Seuss' Grinch as more
subdued, more of a wizened old curmudgeon, and a hell of a lot meaner. This is
disheartening given the fact that Carrey has developed into quite an actor as
of late with terrific turns in Truman Show and Man on the Moon.
Where
Howard really succeeds is with the look of the picture. The art direction in this
film is astounding. You will be magically sent to a new world in form of Whoville.
Watching this place is like being in Fantasyland or a Tim Burton film. Also, a
major shout out to the breathtaking cinematography. And last but certainly not
least, I have to mention Rick Baker's incredible make-up. Jim Carrey is completely
unrecognizable as the Grinch. And although Carrey had it rough hidden behind all
that latex and fur, Baker should be commended for some of his best work in years.
In
the end, it seems that it's the liberties that Howard and his film makers have
taken, that bog this picture down. The final act of the Grinch (the actual Seuss
story) seems to be taken right out of the pages. But the rest of it is just Carrey
running around like a mad man. Maybe Howard should have kept him in check. And
although the film has a few memorable moments (there's a great homage to action
film car explosions), this Grinch can't seem to maintain the level of energy and
whimsy it needs to engage the audience.
