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The Grinch (How the Grinch stole Christmas) - Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski, Ron Howard

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

You'd better watch out!

A curmudgeonly recluse whose heart is two sizes too small, the Grinch (Jim Carrey) resides in his cave high atop Mount Crumpit with his dog Max, and plenty of lettuce juice, extra-virgin castor oil and sour milk for sustenance. Annoyed by the out-of-control Christmas festivities in Whoville, the Grinch conspires to deprive the Whos of their favourite holiday, but comes to learn that the spirit of Christmas goes much deeper than tinsel and toys.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film Christmas Dr Seuss Grinch Who family

Persons of interest

Jim Carrey .... Grinch
Taylor Momsen .... Cindy Lou Who
Jeffrey Tambor .... Mayor Augustus Maywho
Christine Baranski .... Martha May Whovier
Bill Irwin .... Lou Lou Who
Molly Shannon .... Betty Lou Who
Clint Howard .... Whobris
Josh Ryan Evans .... 8-Year-Old Grinch
Mindy Sterling .... Clarnella
Rachel Winfree .... Rose
Jeremy Howard .... Drew Lou Who
Frankie Ray .... Who
TJ Thyne .... Stu Lou Who
Lacey Kohl .... Christina Whoterberry
Nadja Pionilla .... Junie
Jim Meskimen .... Officer Wholihan
Dr Seuss .... Author
Jeffrey Price .... Screenwriter
Peter S Seaman .... Screenwriter
Ron Howard .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

The Grinch official movie sites:

Awards and film festivals:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS - Oscars) 2001: Won: Best make-up (Rick Baker, Gail Rowell-Ryan)

Studios and distributors:

Universal Pictures

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Doctor Seuss!

And Jim Carrey!

Now, the good Doctor is a legend: he should be given the Nobel Prize for literature and given the keys to the planet. If you don't know The cat in the hat or the Zax who made trax or Sam I am who does not like green eggs and ham then you have been deprived and are probably suffering from several disturbing psychoses. As Christmas is due shortly (hence the release of the DVD and video!) it will be a good excuse for you to buy nieces, nephews, grandchildren and, of course, your own kiddie winkies as many Doctor Seuss books as you can find. Then you can read them together, saving them and yourself from an endless round of psychotherapy.

Now, Jim is a part-time legend: he wobbles between humour god and "How did this guy ever make it into the movies?" For every Truman show there's a Cable guy. Oh, well, you win some, you lose some. The Grinch, fortunately for you all, is a winner. Jim is entirely Grinchful and when he lets out a wee Carreyism it's done in the best possible taste (and entirely in keeping with the character). He's hectic, he's frantic and he's funny.

The film is not a literal adaptation of the Doctor's story - it would be rather short if they did that - but it does stick very closely to the humour and the intent of the original. You won't destroy the ankle-biters' minds by letting them see this piece of Hollywood glitz and it gives you more incentive to go out and buy the book, doesn't it? Taylor Momsen is great, Christine Baranski vamps it up and Josh R Evans is classic. Ron Howard's direction is pretty near invisible, allowing you to experience the story, which is the most important part. The back-story of the Grinch's unhappy childhood is new but it allows a greater sense of continuity (ie temporal development) which film-goers require more than readers.

Should you see The Grinch? You betcha: it's a hoot! There's as much in it for groan-ups as there is for the nippers and the two strains often overlap to everyone's better enjoyment. Ah, a fun film with a serious message that's worth seeing... who'da thunk it?

Media intelligence (DVD)

Audio and languages: English (5.1), English (DTS), Hungarian (surround)
Disc: Single sided, dual layered
Picture: Widescreen (1.85:1/16:9 enhanced)
Special features:

Deleted scenes
Out-takes
Spotlight on location - Behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the movie with cast and crew interviews
4 behind-the-scenes featurettes on bringing the film to life with visual effects, make-up and set design
Wholiday recipes
Where are you Christmas? music video performed by Faith Hill
Max's playhouse - includes read-along, sing-along and other fun and games
DVD-ROM features including interactive games, screensavers and more!
Production notes
Cast and filmmaker's notes
Picture disc

Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish
Trailers: