A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville. Read more …
Despite its story-telling ambition being two sizes too small (much like its hairy protagonist’s heart), The Grinch is impossibly cute, visually rich and boasts enough festive fun to satisfy young viewers.
There is nothing here not to like – apart from the fact that the film has arrived in cinemas at least a month too soon.
Co-directors Cheney and Mosier maintain a suitably breezy pace throughout, racking up a number of hilarious sight gags in the process. On top of that, the script cleverly incorporates most of Seuss' original text while seamlessly adding some new material, including an explanatory childhood flashback that's heartbreaking to watch.
Now comes another animation, which takes the book’s message that you can’t buy Christmas and tops it up with noisy, wacky capering, squishing and flattening Seuss’s universe into yet another bland frenetic kids’ movie.
With a U certificate, it’s certainly geared towards younger children unfamiliar with the tale. Though its snappy pace and jaunty score, garlanded with a number of tracks from the American rapper Tyler, the Creator, together with its colourful visuals and short running time, widens its appeal to older children and parents (though it’s perhaps too simple and sweet for teens).
General release. Check local listings for show times.