Which Grinch Is Your Grinch?

Once again it's that time of year when trees begin appearing in houses, children think about toys more than usual, and people start leaving shoes, guns and bullets in air vents. That's right it's December. A month in which many go absolutely nuts in order to celebrate a single chaotic day. As this silliest of seasons fires up Kevin McCallister will find himself all alone, the British Prime Minister will dance around Number 10 before taking a chance on love (not from the Americans), and Hans Gruber's retirement plans will suffer a fly in the ointment.

But there is one among us who despises the festivities and shuns the holiday spirit more than most. No I'm not talking about myself. I couldn't pull off that shade of green. We're talking about a dark soul with a shrunken, hate-filled heart, and an evil smile to match. It's still not me. Born from the mind of the legendary Dr. Seuss, this most sinister of creatures was the subject of a beloved children's book before gracing our screens multiple times, under a number of different guises, both animated and in live-action. He even has a parody video (How the Grinch Took Mushrooms), and his very own podcast ('Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show). And every year, in homes across the world, the Grinch tries to steal Christmas.

After his story of the most "Bah Humbug" creature in all of literature was published in 1957, Theodor Seuss Geisel - A.K.A. Dr. Seuss - was reluctantly convinced to adapt How the Grinch Stole Christmas! into a holiday special by the famous animator, Chuck Jones. Originally broadcast in December 1966, the special was an instant hit, for US audiences, anyway. According to IMDb it would be another three years before the film landed on UK shores. But it's easy to see why it has become the beloved classic that it is today. I mean, Max is fabulous, especially when he's attempting to pull a sleigh down Mt. Crumpit. Even Kevin McCallister watches it every year, whether in Chicago or New York.

Seuss' charming story - along with the delightfully quirky world within it - is brought to life with the perfect combination of the good Dr. and Jones' unique animation styles, while Boris Karloff brings a deliciously spine-tingling chill to proceedings as both the narrator and the voice of the Grinch. Karloff's cold portrayal clashes perfectly with the sweetness of the Whos, so that even after seeing heart-warming scenes of the inhabitants of Whoville celebrating Christmas together, it can be strangely enjoyable watching the Grinch attempt to steal it from them. And yet, that all important message about the true meaning of Christmas shines through.

However, the thing that sets this holiday special apart, even today, is that wonderful song. Written by Seuss, composed by Albert Hague, and sung perfectly by Thurl Ravenscroft - who for some reason didn't get screen credit - You're A Mean One, Mr Grinch is iconic. Possibly more so than the special itself. When you hear Ravenscroft singing those familiar lyrics you instantly think of Christmas, and the green meanie that tries to steal it. Moreover, no matter how many times they remake or re-tell the Grinch's story, the one thing they cannot beat or improve upon is Ravenscroft's version of the song. It is perfect!

Despite his popularity, it would be another 34 years before the Grinch would get a shot at the big screen. Besides dropping the exclamation point, Ron Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) dives deeper into why the Grinch hates Christmas and the Whos, while seriously ramping up Seuss' warning about the materialism of Christmas. The movie is a little over the top in that respect, in that it really does feel like the movie is trying to beat you over the head with said message. Although it does at least reflect the manic experience that is Christmas shopping. And the over the top approach to the story is in keeping with Jim Carrey's performance as the big, green meanie.

Carrey's take on the Grinch, I think, is a little too extreme. Yes, he's very good at it, and there are definitely a few laughs to be had when he's ranting and raving about just about anything, or interacting with the narrator. But with previous versions of the character there's a sense of something sinister and evil, whereas Carrey's is just nasty and loud - even before all the bullying and isolation. One thing I can't deny, however, is that he looks the part. He's almost unrecognisable as this Grinch brought to life. Which is why I can understand Carrey's struggles with being cocooned in fur and prosthetics, as well as makeup artist Kazu Hiro's struggles with working with the rather uncomfortable star. That transformation through incredible makeup extends to the entire cast, all of whom look incredible as the people of Whoville. Plus the impressive set design means they have this incredibly vibrant and Seuss-ian world to inhabit. All of which brings this story to life in a big way.

Speaking of bringing this story to life; writers Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman have done a good job of expanding Seuss' tale into a feature length movie. The exploration of Grinchy's background - including that haunting baby Grinch - and the Whos' Christmas traditions, as well as Cindy Lou's struggles with the true meaning of the holiday are not only quite compelling, they also feel organic to the original story. It's not just a case of Grinch hating Christmas anymore, we actually have more of an understanding of why, and what eventually tipped him over the edge, turning him from local grouch to master criminal. Watching Grinch endure the trials of being the Holiday Cheermeister can be quite amusing too - especially when he does a Boris Johnson during the sack race. 

The real question, however; would Kevin McCallister watch this version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas every year, like he does the original?

Whereas the Howard/Carrey movie was a pretty faithful adaptation of the original story, The Grinch plays a little more fast and loose with the source material - beginning with the title. That said, the marrying of Dr. Seuss' quirky style with the wackiness of Illumination proves to be a match made in heaven. Yet again Whoville is brought to life in a beautiful and vibrant fashion, as are its residents and their obsession with Christmas. But what would this delightful town be without someone to despise everything festive? 

Much like everything else in this new take on How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, this is a very different Grinch. He's not really evil or sinister, or even nasty. And the Whos certainly don't hate or avoid him like they do previous iterations of the character. However, he is amusingly bad, and more importantly, filled with hatred for all things Christmas. His antics are more on the hilarious side, and thanks in no small part to Benedict Cumberbatch's excellent voice work he's actually quite endearing, even loveable - especially when you start to dig into his troubled background. His relationships with Max the dog and Fred the reindeer are fun too. As is his feud/friendship with the unbreakable Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson). 

Now, this might seem like an odd approach to a character that's supposed to be horrible, and I'm aware that I've just criticised Jim Carrey's performance for doing something similar, but here it actually works really well. Carrey's movie was meant to be more in-keeping with the original story, which makes his OTT style stand out. Whereas this movie takes a whole new approach, so it makes sense that the character has been tweaked to match. Following Grinch as he puts together his little theft somehow has the feel of a much bigger adventure, a heist movie even, and a hilarious one at that. His attempts to acquire reindeer and a sleigh are particularly hysterical, especially when it comes to a run-in with a certain goat.

Naturally, his attempts to steal Christmas put the big green on a hilarious collision course with the young Cindy Lou (Cameron Seely), who works to remind us of the message behind this story with a heart-warmingly festive caper of her own. Watching the little Who go to great lengths to do something nice for her overworked mother, I can't help wondering if the writers were trying to send their own children - or maybe all children - a not so subtle message. But it's still a fun way of teaching kids to think of others, and you can't help but admire both her tenacity and her ingenuity.

If there’s one thing that these Grinches share, it’s the fact that they make stealing Christmas look so easy! And yet they are inextricably linked with everything good about the holiday season. The question is, do you have a favourite? Mine is Benedict Cumberbatch in The Grinch. I like all three films, of course. But Illumination's loose take on Dr. Seuss' classic tale, combined with Cumberbatch’s excellent performance is just my kind of wacky, festive hilarity.

Here's my official Grinch ranking:

1. The Grinch (2018)
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

If you're a fan of all things Grinch, or are simply looking for something new in the way of festive entertainment, don't forget to check out my 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast | Average Guy Review.

So… which Grinch is your Grinch? Do you have a favourite? Or is Christmas a time in which you avoid the fuzzy, green arsehole? Leave a comment below or find us on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and Threads. You can also email us at moviemoustache@gmail.com.