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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Pratfall-heavy take on holiday tale is fun, mostly gentle.
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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
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Based on 73 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Narrated by Pharrell Williams, DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH elaborates on Dr. Seuss' classic book about the Christmas-hating Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who lives above the merry town of Whoville. Down below, the mayor of Whoville (Angela Lansbury) has deemed that Christmas is going to be three times as big as in previous years. So the Grinch decides he's going to ruin everyone's holiday by pretending to be Santa and stealing the entire town's presents and decorations. But adorable little Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely), whose mother, Donna Lou (Rashida Jones), is a hard-working single mom, has a plan of her own: trap Santa and ask him for a very special gift.
Is It Any Good?
This adaptation is bright, colorful, and occasionally funny, but it doesn't come close to matching the effectiveness of the short-and-sweet original. While Cumberbatch's voice isn't as resonantly deep as Boris Karloff's, his Grinch is believably grumpy, angry, and resentful of Whoville's need for a ginormous Christmas celebration. The Grinch's lovably loyal dog, Max, makes the green meanie a bit more sympathetic, as does the sad backstory that explains his motivations for hating the holiday.
But this isn't only the Grinch's story. It's also Cindy Lou's, as she attempts to convince Santa to grant her selfless wish. To accomplish her goal, there's a subplot involving a group of her friends, a kid-led caper that should appeal to younger audiences. Jones is well cast as a loving mom, and Kenan Thompson adds comic relief as a Whoville resident who misguidedly believes that the Grinch is his pal. For its enduring messages about kindness and love, it's hard to find fault in The Grinch, but it's unlikely to surpass Chuck Jones' famous animated special on the "holiday classics" list.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Dr. Seuss' The Grinch differs from both the beloved made-for-TV classic and the live-action version. Which do you like best? Which seems truest to the original Dr. Seuss book?
Are there any role models in the movie? If so, who? What character strengths do they display?
What is the movie's message about the holidays? How does the Grinch learn those lessons?
What are some of your family's holiday traditions? What do you love about them?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 9, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: February 5, 2019
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch , Rashida Jones , Angela Lansbury
- Directors: Yarrow Cheney , Scott Mosier
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Holidays
- Character Strengths: Compassion
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: brief rude humor
- Last updated: November 15, 2023
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