• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Movie Review – The Grinch (2018)

November 9, 2018 by Matt Donato

The Grinch, 2018.

Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Angela Lansbury, Cameron Seely, Kenan Thompson, and Pharrell Williams.

SYNOPSIS: 

A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

Illumination Entertainment’s latest Dr. Seuss adaptation – Christmas classic The Grinch – is a delightful kid-friendly holiday treat. Adult-friendly, as well. Mr. Grinch may be a mean one, but Benedict Cumberbatch’s personification is the least darkened of all. His a Grinch boasting denser (albeit brief) backstory development- a reason for hating Christmas – yet more exuberant twinkles of pleasure. Jim Carrey will always be remembered for donning Dr. Seuss’s grouchy green costume, expressive in ways Cumberbatch’s CG avatar dreams if only to remind how different a take Illumination shapes. Brighter, chirpier, and stuffed fat with a whole lot of neatly-wrapped holiday cheer.

Dr. Seuss penned a tale about How The Grinch Stole Christmas, but Illumination dares to ponder “Why?”

You know the story. Mr. Grinch – who lives above Whoville in a mountaintop hideaway complete with Batcave-like workshop – despises Christmas. This year especially mounts dread when the Mayor of Whoville (Angela Lansbury) orders seasonal celebrations be tripled in size. Grinch plans to imitate Santa Claus, infiltrate Whoville homes, and steal every last remnant of Christmas joy until the town is cheerless. He doesn’t care about wide-eyed children like Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely) and their Xmas wishes, as unselfish they might be. All Grinchy can think about his one fateful holiday spent in an orphanage with no parents, no presents, and only the memory of being completely alone on Christmas.

Writers Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow’s orphanage tie-in to seasonal depression achieves the most empathy of any franchise take to-date. The Grinch’s hatred of candied sugar plums and gingerbread houses cuts to the core of abandonment but also tees Cindy Lou up for a more affecting saving interaction. Even as Grinch steals Bricklebaum’s (Kenan Thompson) decoration slay and pelts children with snowballs, there’s less visible malice. No extreme upturned Carrey frown. No devious 1966 million-mile smirk. Don’t get me wrong; Grinch takes Whoville to task over its Christmas obsession – it’s just very, well, Illumination-brand safe.

2018’s caroling Dr. Seuss update is so very commercialized as you might expect. Pharrell Williams overtakes narration duties. Cumberbatch isn’t asked to go full-bore musical in his role. Tyler, The Creator updates sing-along favorites like “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” that set a more contemporary hip-hop backdrop while every imaginable holiday jingle from the Jackson 5 to – well, name a classic December radio hit – lurches The Grinch into modern pop-culture realms. Sometimes besetting mood, other times striking an energized Christmas spirit previous films lacked.

As expected, Illumination’s Grinch undergoes a restoration to appease sight gags and relevance. Grinch enjoys his coffee every morning with a creamer sad face artwork, shakes his bum in bright pink aerobic stretchy pants – the usual Minions-brand humor. Although, Cumberbatch doesn’t allow Grinch to become a donkey for pin-the-tail puns. His daily routine with super-pup Max is a constant catalyst for joy as the two scheme and invent and share helicopter-helmet hijinx with all-ages entertainment value. This year may not bring the most “theatrical” Grinch, but personality benefits this hairy Scrooge whether he’s filling emotional voids with meatballs or stricken silent by the unwavering spirit of singing Whoville citizens.

Directors Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier – along with Illumination’s rocksteady animation department – construct a Whoville winter wonderland smelling of evergreen and hot cocoa. Roads become bobsled luges where toboggans speed down slippery slopes. Grinch uses “Mold Spice” deodorant before shopping at “Who Foods.” Market doors open like unlocked chests, bakeries sell peppermint bread, and everyone has a smile on their face. Packed snow glistens, each powdery ball speckled with visible flakes that demonstrate advanced computerized digitization. Delectable feasts laid across banquet tables, colorful Xmas sweaters, glistening lights and strung tinsel – The Grinch screams Christmas.

Today, more than ever, can we ignore a film that toasts “To kindness and love, the things we need most?” The Grinch soothes and charms through its tenacious ability to shine beckoning beacons of happiness. Cindy Lou ever the scene-stealing bundle of curious childhood good-will (her “wish” a warm Hallmark blanket), Mr. Grinch the devious meanie with far more admissions of niceties than we might expect. Dr. Seuss gets “illuminated” once again, and while it’s not always the deepest cut into holiday loneliness or outcast pain (some jokes more kiddie-tuned, as well), The Grinch is sure to please giddy families who stand Christmas trees upright immediately after trick ‘r treaters snag their last fun-sized candy bar.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Matt spends his after-work hours posting nonsense on the internet instead of sleeping like a normal human. He seems like a pretty cool guy, but don’t feed him after midnight just to be safe (beers are allowed/encouraged). Follow him on Twitter/Instagram (@DoNatoBomb).

Filed Under: Matt Donato, Movies, Reviews Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Kenan Thompson, Pharrell Williams, Rashida Jones, Scott Mosier, The Grinch, Yarrow Cheney

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Gladiator at 25: The Story Behind Ridley Scott’s Sword-and-Sandal Epic

Ten Essential Films of the 1960s

The Most Shocking Movies of the 1970s

Maximum Van Dammage: The Definitive Top 10 Jean-Claude Van Damme Movies!

Great Movies Guaranteed To Creep You Out

Francis Ford Coppola In And Out Of The Wilderness

The Gruesome Brilliance of 1980s Italian Horror Cinema

Horror Video Games We Need As Movies

All This Has Happened Before: Remembering Battlestar Galactica

The Essential New French Extremity Movies

Top Stories:

Movie Review – Juliet & Romeo (2025)

Great Director’s Cuts That Are Better Than The Original Theatrical Versions

Movie Review – Final Recovery (2025)

Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Review – Episodes 7-9

Movie Review – The Shrouds (2025)

Movie Review – Fight or Flight (2025)

Movie Review – Clown in a Cornfield (2025)

Ten Great 80s Movie Stars Who Disappeared

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

Cobra: Sylvester Stallone and Cannon Films Do Dirty Harry

The Essential Richard Norton Movies

Lock, Stock and The Essential Guy Ritchie Movies

From Hated to Loved: Did These Movies Deserve Reappraisal?

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket