Reviewed by: Joe

Directed by: Ron Howard

Produced by: Brian Grazer

Cast: Jim Carrey, Anthony Hopkins, Molly Shannon, Jeffrey Tambor, & Verne Troyer

Released: November 17, 2000

Comedy 1 hr. 45 min. In this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, director Ron Howard (APOLLO 13, SPLASH), casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role, giving this rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a perverse, manic spin. Add great special effects and a fast-moving script and this well-loved story of a freakish green monster living in a mountainside cave who disguises himself as Santa Claus, and steals the Christmas goodies from every single home in Whoville, becomes a hilarious holiday comedy. .

Howard’s version of The Grinch exceeds even the cartoon classic in its entertainment value but will it be an enduring classic? Not entirely. This film could have been an absolute disaster if Carrey had not been cast as The Grinch and Howard had not helming the project but luckily everything worked out for the project. As entertaining as the feature is, not everything works for it. The song sung by Taylor Momsen near the beginning could have been easily cut since it had really no reason to be placed in the film in the first

Another problem was the kind of humor that was used. Sure, a butt joke here and there would be entertaining and funny but at times the film goes a little too far and some of the gross-out-humor gets annoying and just plain disgusting for the age group that this film is aimed at. A younger audience shouldn’t be prevented from watching this but parents should take some caution for some scenes that the younger children will probably question about. Outside of those small problems, How the Grinch Stole Christmas proves to be an enduring holiday tale once again that doesn’t fail to catch the imagination of the public, no matter what age they are.