The Grinch Movie Review: Illumination Films Make Benedict Cumberbatch As The Mean Green Creature A Whole Lot Nicer

Sometimes nice is good and also rather necessary. Surely, The Grinch is the last person on this planet who can make you feel good but directors, Yarrow Cheney (The Secret Life of Pets) and Scott Mosier, have woven a disparate tale with a buoyant Grinch. Comparing it to its predecessors would be erroneously Grinchy. But we critics have got to step into his shoes and be as fastidious with every aspect of the film as possible.

The pop culture retelling of the classic Dr Seuss tale of How The Grinch Stole The Christmas stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the diabolical green mean monster who wants to make Christmas a sad holiday, as narrated by Pharrell Williams. The Whos of Whoville wants to make this year's Christmas three times bigger than the last year. This would mean lots of lights, presents, cookies and a ginormous LIT Christmas tree. While the Whoville residents are revelling in the illumination of their big tree, the Grinch, sitting atop the Crumpet mountain, has evils running all over his head. Sure, it starts off as mere annoyance caused by his neighbour who broke a rather disturbing news about the Christmas being bigger than ever.

Daunted by the haunting past of being abandoned in an orphanage with no idea of what a family sounds or looks like, The Grinch decides to steal the Christmas so this feeling takes over the Whoville. While he has his wicked plans at galore, a little Who, Cindy Lou, wants to strike a deal with Santa Claus. Little do the two expect to cross paths and change each other's lives. So yeah, if you're looking for outright evilness and constant creepy smiles from The Grinch from this film, you're mistaken. It is more of a feel-good Christmas film that will keep a child entertained throughout and something an adult won't mind (unlike Peppa Pig).

In a world that is currently fuelled by hate rather than love, Illumination and Universal Pictures' feel-good rendition of Dr Seuss' classic is something that should be lauded. Sure, it has its weak moments like Keenan Thompson's annoying portrayal or Benedict Cumberbatch's less enthusiastic voiceover but the idea behind making it a sentimental film deserves some attention. Not to mention the ironic sidekicks this Grinch has, a cutie dog Max and a softie plump reindeer Fred, both adding the #cutenessoverload blanket on the new age Grinch.

We'll let you know that the Grinch is in no way, worse and badder when compared to its predecessors such as Jim Carey or Boris Karloff, who gave us the chills as bad guys. This Grinch is a softie and a whole lot nicer than the other Grinches. At one point, Pharrell and Benedict's voiceovers are on par with Benedict toning down is already less-intimidating voice as The Grinch.

Yays

- A feel good film

- ‎Impeccable animation, especially the way fur, snow and smoke have been captured

- ‎Advanced high tech honed by The Grinch which might even give Iron Man some competition in the name of creation!

- ‎The positive retelling with a back story for everyone is required and not sloppy

- ‎The humour woven by The Grinch's furry pals (Doggie Max and Reindeer Fred) are surprisingly ironic and cute

Nays

- Benedict Cumberbatch is not very convincing as the Grinch

- ‎Humour involving the Whos seems a bit forced

- ‎The story, at one point in time, seems like a big stretch

- ‎Kenan Thompson who plays a Who who thinks he is the Grinch's BFF is kind of a lame character who is overtly OTT

Final Word

It will keep your toddler and you entertained and don't worry, it has a good moral lesson by the due course of the film. But don't expect it to be just as diabolical as the other Grinches because this one leans more towards the fixed moral compass than to entertain just for fun. And, it's a bit of a stretch.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2018 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).