What makes a movie a classic depends on a combination of many elements coming together in just the right manner and degree. When Chuck Jones of Warner Brothers Studios animaated the Dr. Seuss story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it instantly became a classic. It was a combination of an excellent story by a literary master, Dr. Seuss; Chuck Jone's expressive and witty animation, and the incomparable naration of Boris Karloff. Add to that a catchy theme song, and a poignant messsage about the commercializaton of Christmas, and you have a classic.

So why try to remake a classic movie? I do not know. Hollywood has developed a bad habit of trying to remake what aready works so well. At the onset, I have to admit that I was skeptical of how one could improve on this story. After all, the original was a little less the 30 minutes long, and animated. A "big screen" version would have to stretch the story out to full length, and bring the animated world of the Whos to life.

In the "big screen" version of How the Grinch Stole christmas, a heavily made-up Jim Carey plays the "foul One." Like another extreemly talentled comic actor, Robin Williams, Jim Carey has a tendency to go over the top when not kept in check by his director. And this performace goes right to the top of Mount Krumpet. Boris Karloff's grinch was a likable, lonely, but exceedingly grumpy old man. Carey's Grinch is more obnoxious than grumpy. At times he looks more like the Mask than the Grinch. At times his humor is downright foul.

Not surprisingly, the script of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is at its best when it returns to Dr. Seuss's own lines. The Cindy Lou character is fleshed out, and distracting to those familiar with the original. A love interest is added to the story, which was unnecessary. And a somewhat interesting explaination is given as to try to explain why the Grinch hates Christmas so.

Where the Grinch really looses its way is in striving for Blockbuster appeal. Afterall, the essential message of this story is that commercialism is not what Christmas is about. In the Hollywood version, everything is bigger than life, starting from the casting of Jim Carey to the special effects budget, to the In-Your-Face marketing. Its enough to make one feel like stealing all the distracting props, and make up, and special effects, hoping that the studio awakens to find that it is the story and the message which are important.

Unfortunately, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is purely a big budget children's movie. My 3 year old lost interst half way through movie. (He wanted to see the Rugrats). However, older children might find its foul brand of humor amusing. My advice: take the $10 you would pay at the boxoffice and purchase the original on video.

Kevin Izard
Milwaukee

My wife and I both started falling asleep while watching this movie. I'd suggest saving your money on this one and wait for the rental. The original was much more interesting.

I do have to say I liked some of Jim Carry's moves and facial gestures which were different than I've seen in the past, but these weren't enough to make this movie worth while to see.

I thought this movie was good! I was laughing thru most of it..very clever lines!!

I don't know why some people thought it was boring. I'm not a little kid and I still enjoyed it, although I think that maybe little kids wouldn't get a lot of the jokes. It's probably actually more of a older-kid movie.

This movie totally gets you in the holiday spirit....Jim Carey does a great job.
Go see THE GRINCH soon!!

If you don't go expecting too much from this movie you might find it mildly entertaining. Ron Howard did a fairly good job of re-creating the feel of a Seussian environment. However, the story does tends to wander around a bit detracting from the simple message of how the spirit of Christmas can soften even the hardest of hearts even in the face of rampant over-commercialization.

I guess I kind of agree with the other reviewers about maybe waiting for the rental except that the movie may lose some of its appeal when it's formatted for the small screen.

Overall I can't say I'm sorry I went to see it but I wouldn't sit through it a second time.

I was entertained. Isn't that what the cinema is for?

Not a kids' movie. When we went, the theatre was full of children. Our group (ranging from age 21 to 51) were the only ones laughing, but we laughed a lot!
Far from intellectual, but the pop humour was good (and I tend not to like pop humor.)

Very light-hearted; a good-time flick.

I tell you this was one boring long movie. I thought it was dragged out and very long. The original was only a half hour, try to imagine a 2 hour and 5 minute movie.

I would really wait to see it on video, that way your kids can take breaks and you can pause it here and there. It still is a good movie to rent out and see, just alittle long.

"The Grinch" is a flat little fantasy which stars Jim Carrey, who came off this film as a night-club comedian in make-up. The 1966 animated short which I have seen a million times, is much better than the dreary updated mess.

The message of this film as well as the 1966 short ralles against commericalism in favorite of a little faith, but that message must have gotten lost in all the commerical endorsements.