How the Grinch stole Christmas

Who, you say, will have his way With Whos upon their merry day? The answer's easy; it's a cinch It's Carried deep inside the Grinch. Whoville's filled with lots of whos Who all too often pick and choose. But looking more through Cindy's view You might be who you might be too.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Ron Batzdorff

You can keep Christmas; give me the Grinch. Green goes good for Christmas. Yes, the amazing embodiment of the Grinch has arrived to offer everyone "something" nowhere akin to holiday cheer. Ironic, isn't it? Hard to describe exactly what kind of adversity he offers as he grits his crooked teeth, but part of his scheme is to steal the things that many Whos focus upon as central to their celebration of that fateful day in December: prezzies.

First published in 1957, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" quickly became a children's classic that managed to find its way into stockings everywhere (if they hadn't already been removed by the G). Theodor S. Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) had solidly established his name and reputation with "The Cat in the Hat" as well as "Green Eggs and Ham" before the Grinch made his notorious appearance on the

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon

scene. The real explosion in children's literature started for Geisel when he successfully answered a publisher's challenge in the 1950's by writing children's books that had a special appeal and managed to creatively use a limited scope of 225 words. "The Cat in The Hat" sold a million copies. Immediately, Seuss became a household name.

Having had a dreadful experience with the 1953 film "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T," Ted Geisel never allowed any of his famous books to be filmed with real people again. The Grinch had been realized as animation film in 1966 and Seuss was sufficiently satisfied with this version not to want to contemplate what could become of it as a film utilizing live actors. The advancements made in computer technology since that time, however, persuaded his widow to reassess and open up the possibilities so that the original work of Geisel could finally be realized with actors. Offers from Hollywood were entertained, and now the public is too. Audrey Geisel entrusted the "Grinch" to the hands of producer Brian Grazer.

There's nothing terribly wrong with the Grinch, except that his heart is two sizes too small. And, when all is said and done, isn't the Grinch a Who too? But who are these Whos? A bit of a mixed bag, they consist of creatures like Mayor May Who

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Digital Domain

(Jeffrey Tambor) and Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski) whose actions may, at times, be questionable as well as Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), her mother Betty Lou Who (Molly Shannon), and father Lou Lou Who (Bill Irwin), who really are kind creatures overflowing with the milk of family values. All the Whos are joyfully busy spinning around town and doing their holiday shopping, sharing a happiness reminiscent to that known by the likes of the Brady Bunch. Only little Cindy Lou Who seems to have an empathetic inkling that the Grinch is Whoman too. Why does every Who regard him so contemptuously? Cindy Lou begins investigating the past and comes up with some interesting facts. On her path of investigation, she develops an understanding of the true meaning of Christmas (as does the Grinch). Before the tale ends, both of them become different creatures. As for the other Whos, they seem content enough already without undergoing any earth-shattering changes and, besides, they're not too partial to getting kerbobbled.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Digital Domain

Throw together nine football fields of interior set snow, more than eight thousand Christmas ornaments, more than one-hundred-fifty-thousand pounds of crushed marble for exterior set snow, almost two thousand candy canes, six miles of styrofoam for sets, eight thousand ornaments, and fifty thousand Christmas lights and you're on your way to gathering together the strange elements used to turn the Grinch into a cinema classic. Add a touch of Rick Baker make-up magic. And, of course, there's no forgetting the strangest and most necessary element of all: Jim Carrey. Who else could bring this character to life except the comic genius of our time?

Director Ron Howard, assisted by an amazing team, has managed to create one of the most entertaining, visually exciting, and easily palatable fantasies on the contemporary screen. Accessible to all audiences, this movie is bound to be a high scoring smash hit and a box-office success. (It's interesting, however, considering that the tale had to be stretched to reach feature length, to contemplate what it might otherwise have become if the darker side of the Grinch and the Whos had been

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Digital Domain

explored by someone like, for example, Tim Burton. Oh, well, it was not to be.) This rendition has concentrated on a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Let us, however, in a slight diversion, consider the more serious aspects of this film as it has been realized. The original story features only the fabulous Grinch and adorable Cindy Lou Who among the Seuss characters found in this gigantic cast. The

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas TM
©2000 Universal Studios,
all rights reserved
Photo: Ron Batzdorff

extension of the tale has brought along with it the heightened element of the Grinch as outcast and the role of society contributing to his banishment. (Don't groan. This is, as stated above, a slight diversion.) There seems to be a message built into the tale of this film telling us that if only the Grinch had been born with a bigger heart, he could have fit more readily into the society of the Whos. Does this mean that his situation is his own fault? Wasn't he ostracized solely because of his inborn oddities? Let's face it, folks, he's green and he's hairy. (Less emphasis is laid and less attention paid to the unrighteous behavior of the devious and discriminatory Mayor than to the shortcomings of the Grinch.) Once the Grinch undergoes metamorphosis and does everything in his power to be nice to the Whos by returning their property, he is welcomed and accepted by the community once again. It would seem that purchasing power is the real way to a Whos' heart. Perhaps this reflects the world's new mind-set (incubated during the yuppified eighties and ecstatic nineties), but is it really the kind of philosophy to be sporting itself in a children's Christmas tale? Can't people, or Grinches for that matter, be nice just to be nice? Perhaps not in the new millennium. God help the Greens.

It appears that there is still too much humbug floating around Whoville.

Nevertheless, let us end our diversion and enjoy the movie.

All you nog-sucking cheermongers should take a break from your sickening Yuletide nonsense and enter the cavern of this adorable sourpuss because the film is great fun and is definitely A MUST SEE!
In the meantime, The Green Hartnett wishes you all A VERY MERRY GRINCH.

On Howard, on Horner, on Grazer, on Baker, On Peterman, Corenblith, Ryack and Mack On Carrey, on Momsen, Hopkins, Tambor, Baranski. Seuss and Ted Geisel are on their way back.