DR SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

US, 2000, 104 minutes, Colour.
Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Clint Howard, Mindi Sterling.
Directed by Ron Howard.



Dr Seuss wrote a children's story about a hairy green creature, The Grinch, who lived in a cave outside Whoville. The inhabitants of Whoville were a happy lot, especially at Christmas time, where gifts meant a lot. The Grinch had been spurned by the inhabitants, especially the ambitious mayor, ever since he was a child. Embittered, he wants to spoil Christmas. But a sweet little girl (future singer Taylor Momsen) keeps trying to draw him into the festivities and... Well, you have to see the rest.

Whoville is a self-contained sweet land, a bit like a section of a theme park. The inhabitants all have snub noses and wear eccentric clothes. Ron Howard's film creates this world and makes us believe in it. But it is Jim Carrey, hidden behind the Grinch make-up, who remembers that he was The Mask and Ace Ventura and so lets rip with his versatile mugging, clowning and face-pulling plus a range of anti-Christmas sayings.

The moral of the story is, of course, that goodness comes from within and that is a gift in itself. Who could argue with that?


1. The popularity of Dr Seuss stories? The story of the Grinch? The poem, the verse? Screen animated versions?

2. The visualising of Whoville, in the icicle, the star, through the clouds, the snow in the mountains, the small village? The buildings, colour? People, the snub noses? People in their work, the postman? The sales for Christmas, the crushes in the shop, hurrying to the post office, sending the goods, the wrapping area? The square, the Christmas tree, the presents?

3. The contrast with the Grinch, on top of the mountain, his cave, the company of his dog? His appearance, green and furry?

4. The story told about his origin, all the babies arriving, the old ladies receiving the Grinch, his appearance, ugly, yet their doting on him? At school? The children and their taunts, his hairiness, the attempted shave? Martha May and her liking him? His fleeing the town, growing up in the mountain?

5. The atmosphere of Christmas, the spirit of Christmas? For the ordinary people, the postman and his wife? For Cindy Lou? The ambitious mayor, wanting control, re-election? The attraction to Martha May, the ring and the proposal? His yes-man assistant?

6. The Grinch and his malevolence, the boys climbing the mountain and his frightening them, the Mayor keeping quiet so there would be no story of the Grinch for Christmas? His breathing green breath on people? The encounter with Cindy Lou and wrapping her up like a present? His sayings – anti-Christmas, anti-human, anti-sentiment? His behaviour, with his dog, tormenting the people, frightening them?

7. Cindy Lou, with her parents, her kindness, the meeting with the Grinch, his rejecting her, trying to frighten her? Her continuing to appeal to him? Her nominating him for the award? The people’s reaction? The Mayor?

8. The Grinch, hearing the news, debating, deciding to accept? His delay, the arrival, wanting a cheque? The award? The reaction of the people? The burning of the Christmas tree and the gifts? The alternate tree?

9. The Grinch and his attitude towards presents, his various devices for swooping them up, the huge bundle, at the top of the mountain? Cindy Lou on the bundle, the Grinch pulling it back to safety, holding it aloft?

10. The reaction of the mayor, the gift of the clippers – and the Grinch clipping the Mayor’s hair? The postman and his pride in his daughter, her mother?

11. The Grinch, the decision to return the gifts, everybody happy, the spirit of Christmas?

12. Martha May, involvement of the goings-on, the sexy touch, refusing the Mayor, kissing the Grinch?

13. A Christmas story for children, entertainment for adults?