"The Grinch" Trailer - Same Old Green

“The Grinch” is definitely a way more enjoyable movie than the critics make it out to be. It’s not a great film, but it is most certainly enjoyable. The animation is downright gorgeous and truly does justice to the world of Dr. Seuss as well as “Horton Hears a Who” did a few years ago. There are a few changes to the general story that I wasn’t the biggest fan of, but some of the expansions that were added to the plot I thought we’re pretty good and were a good addition to expand a simple children’s story into a full grown film. The movie further accelerates with very nice voice acting by Benedict Cumberbatch as well as the brilliant as always Kenan Thompson.

As I write this shorter than usual film review, I feel also slightly disappointed because I knew this movie could have potential if done right. As timeless as the Jim Carrey version is, I simply had this thought of Benedict doing a Boris Karloff voice and a serious yet beautiful expanded story being brought into play. Unfortunately, the company that had to take it was Illumination, which suffers from the problem of not wanting to make better kids’ movies. Their style is simply be good enough for the kids and adults to enjoy. The Despicable Me movies worked with that style since it was an original idea and it was Illumination’s first few big movies. Sadly, with Sing, Secret Life of Pets, and now The Grinch, it’s all the same. When you go see a movie by Illumination, you know exactly what you’re getting. Does it make a lot of money for the company? Of course. But I just wish they could focus more on better storytelling and less jokey, pop culture storytelling. This Grinch movie needed that. Granted, some of the humor is kind of cute, and Cindy Lou Who is badass in this adaption, the Grinch was literally a green Gru. That’s never a kind of Grinch that appeared in my imagination, and it’s not an adaption that I think should exist.

The point of this review? You’ll like it, it passes in my book, and it is enjoyable; but hopefully you walk out demanding more. I know Illumination is capable of it.

One Nebs Up!