Christmas Movie #17: The Grinch

Jim Carrey is my God. Apologies to anyone who is a hater, but sadly the man can do no wrong. Or more specifically he can. I just prefer to ignore and enjoy the films anyway.

I know a lot of people hate The Grinch. But, as I have done with many a Carrey film since about 1993, I shall defend it to the hilt.

First, I’ll tell you a story just to prove that I’m a pedant. A couple of years ago I attended a Christmas themed pub quiz. Oh, how the other half live. In the Film Picture Round, there was a picture of Mr Carrey, in his extended prosthetics. Ah, I thought knowlingly. That film can be no other than The Grinch, directed by Ron Howard, released in 2000. You didn’t need all that additional information, but I’m a film geek, it’s what I do.

But, somehow, I got the question wrong? How can this be? As it turned out our quizmaster (pah, I laugh at such a title) was American, and in Americaland, the film is called How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The answer was marked wrong, and my team lost the quiz. By one point. There’s a lesson to be learned there. Never go to America.

Back to the film. There’s so much to like about the film. They’ve tried so hard to make a live action cartoon, and the set design and look reflect it. That is as close to Whoville in human form as were ever likely to get. But all this means very little when Jim Carrey is the lead. It truly is a like or loathe it performance. Personally, I could watch Carrey’s cynical, audience-winking, grotesque, over-the-top, energetic version of the Grinch all day. But I fully concede that it could be hugely grating, especially if you’re not a fan. He truly dominates the film, that you wonder why they didn’t just lock him a room and film him having conversations with himself (try justifying the huge budget then).

Taylor Momsen is a different kettle of fish. As Cindy Lou Who, she’s sweet and likeable. Till she opens her mouth to sing. Oh, God. Oh, jumping jack flash. Oh, shit on a stick. If Cindy Lou Why-why-why singing isn’t the most repugnant, strangulated, uncomfortable, painful, screeching, unpleasant, eye-watering, icky, and just downright wrong example of on-screen warbling, I’ve yet to see it. Or maybe it’s been reserved for a private screening room in hell.

Other than that I like the film. Merry Christmas, don’t sing.