This year I stayed in Austria for Christmas. I had fondue for Christmas dinner. I celebrated Christmas on the 24th December. I had to import Christmas crackers. So for sure I was not missing my Christmas movie viewing. First choice being Home Alone - naturally. But the video store (yep, they still exist in Austria - and it was busy. Blockbusters eat your heart out) didn't carry Home Alone (?) and so we settled on the Grinch. Which I suppose still sums up this movie in the Christmas movie arena. It's never going to be number 1 on your list but it would be equally strange to find a Christmas movie list with the Grinch missed out.
The Grinch is a horrible, intolerant, rude, disgusting, selfish, bordering on insane creature who lives on a pile of garbage on the hill above Whoville. An idyllic village full of 'Who's' whose distinguishing characteristics are their crazy hairstyles, complete airheadedness and overbearing love of Christmas. The Grinch has a busy schedule: 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me - I can't cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing... I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. Eventually a little girl takes pity on him, we learn the whole sorry and poorly injected back story while she invites him back to town to come back into Who-ivilisation. The Grinch decides to steal Christmas after the Who's once again reject him and eventually, after discovering the spirit of Christmas, returns everything he stole and lives happily ever after with the hottest broad in town.
As is pretty clear the storyline has a bit to be desired. But for an adaptation of a book designed for children at an age where they need things to be read out loud to them it's not half bad. The star of the film is as clear as day even 14 years on from the release. Costume (won the academy award) and Make-up (nominated) is fantastic (apart from the Grinch's hairy stomach which freaks me out every time). The Who's make-up and hair is utterly brilliant. It's a little bit planet of the Apes a little bit Star Wars and 100% Rick Baker.
And then there is Jim Carrey. Honestly, noone else could have played this role. No matter whether you love him or hate him. He literally is the Grinch. I imagine Jim Carrey must be a Director's nightmare. But in this case he is just perfect. I have this feeling that all Ron Howard needed to say during filming to Mr. Carrey was 'just go for it' no further direction needed.
It was actually only the second time I have ever seen How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I'd remembered it pretty accurately. Generally, much more amusing (and slightly terrifying) a decade ago. The most bizarre thing has to be that the little girl is none other than Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen.
Who saw that one coming?
The Grinch is a horrible, intolerant, rude, disgusting, selfish, bordering on insane creature who lives on a pile of garbage on the hill above Whoville. An idyllic village full of 'Who's' whose distinguishing characteristics are their crazy hairstyles, complete airheadedness and overbearing love of Christmas. The Grinch has a busy schedule: 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me - I can't cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing... I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. Eventually a little girl takes pity on him, we learn the whole sorry and poorly injected back story while she invites him back to town to come back into Who-ivilisation. The Grinch decides to steal Christmas after the Who's once again reject him and eventually, after discovering the spirit of Christmas, returns everything he stole and lives happily ever after with the hottest broad in town.
And then there is Jim Carrey. Honestly, noone else could have played this role. No matter whether you love him or hate him. He literally is the Grinch. I imagine Jim Carrey must be a Director's nightmare. But in this case he is just perfect. I have this feeling that all Ron Howard needed to say during filming to Mr. Carrey was 'just go for it' no further direction needed.
It was actually only the second time I have ever seen How The Grinch Stole Christmas. I'd remembered it pretty accurately. Generally, much more amusing (and slightly terrifying) a decade ago. The most bizarre thing has to be that the little girl is none other than Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen.
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