(Okay, this is more a rant than anything else; you’ve been duly warned.)
This movie is a live action remake of the wonderful classic 1966 TV Christmas animated special narrated/sung by the inimitable Boris Karloff. It was directed by Ron Howard (who should have known better) with Jim Carrey (who doesn’t know much about anything) as the Grinch.
(Told you it’s a rant)
For those who may have missed it, here’s the trailer:
I really shouldn’t have watched this movie, period. For one, I dislike Jim Carrey as an actor, and have a pretty low opinion of him as a person. For another, I have loved the Boris Karloff version pretty much since birth.
However, I have been having a rough time for months, what with one thing and another :cough election day cough: and over the holidays I caved and watched it, hoping it would at least somewhat resemble the original, and thus lift my spirits a bit.
Fat chance.
The animated special was perhaps 25 minutes long, and close to the source material.
This tripe was over four times as long. How was this accomplished, you ask? By inventing a backstory for the Grinch, adding a ‘star crossed lovers’ storyline, and long sequences of ‘action’ in which nothing actually happens.
I really should have known better. Not for nothing my most enduring memory of anything Jim Carrey has done is a clip where he talks with his butt. This is really not much better than that.
If you have ever seen the original animated version, do yourself a favor and avoid this abomination like the plague.
If you have NOT seen the original version, you really should pay attention to listings for it during the next holiday season, and give yourself the gift of watching it, by yourself or with family. And do yourself a favor: stay away from this steaming pile of shit. Watching it might put you off looking out for the original.
(What can I say? At least, it’s a short rant)
Her Hands, My Hands 
Sing it, Sister!! I decided (after viewing the trailer years ago) to never, ever, ever, watch this movie. Like you, I am not a Jim Carey fan at all. I am old enough to have watched the original ‘Grinch’ when it first came out and almost every year there after. Classic! Why mess with a good thing? Hollywood does some very unnecessary remakes and this tops the list.
However, sometimes they get it right—
Next Christmas you might try to watch ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’–but only if you are 1) a Muppets fan and 2) a Michael Caine fan. It has become, over the years, my go-to feel-good Christmas movie.
I’m not much a fan of the Muppets in movies, and in general, not a fan of Christmas movies (with some classic exceptions, such as the original “Miracle in 34th Street”).
I really can’t explain why I subjected myself to the miserable experience of watching this tripe–and all the way to the end, too. Well, yeah, I know: it’s akin to watching the slow motion train derail in a movie, or that awkward person in the office do something obviously and completely inappropriate, then walk away as clueless as before.
Nice to see you posting again even if it’s to rant about a mediocre movie. Yep, it looks like you shouldn’t have watched it. I haven’t got that dislike of yours towards Jim Carrey, but this is the kind of movie that does not interest me. I’m not a very Christmasy person.
Try something lighter next time. I don’t know, something funny and forgettable like Music and Lyrics with Hugh Grant. Unless you also dislike Hugh Grant, of course.
Thank you, Bona!
I actually like Hugh Grant well enough, so I’ll look for Music and Lyrics for my next insomnia night.
(Can I say how nice it is to meet someone else who doesn’t go gaga over Christmas?)