Who Stole the Grinch?(motion picture 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas')(Review)

Why can't we be content with our classics?

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas has taken Theodor S. Geisel's 1957 children's book and pumped it up into a loud, spastic "family film"--or, to be more accurate, a holiday-season cash cow. Like an electrical socket that has too many Christmas lights plugged into it, the movie sparks, sizzles and even occasionally explodes. Only Hollywood could take a gentle bedtime story and turn it into an overblown extravaganza that couldn't be rated G.

Never mind that generations of children have adored Geisel's tale, as well as the faithful short cartoon adaptation that was made in 1966. Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer must consider the original story to be outdated and passe, so brazen are their alterations here. The fact that Geisel's widow reportedly signed off on the finished film doesn't bode well for future Seuss adaptations.

Among the more galling changes is the filmmakers' politically correct version of the Grinch. He's still a rascal, to be sure--the only worthwhile moment is when star Jim Carrey, buried beneath amazing make-up, reenacts the character's devilish grin--but the new movie goes to great lengths to suggest that the Grinch's mischievous nature isn't his fault. In an embarrassing amalgamation of Hollywood hooey and modern relativism, a ridiculous flashback shows an 8-year-old Grinch being teased by the kids of Whoville. Forget about Geisel's lyrical suggestion that the Grinch's "heart was two sizes too small," apparently it was a tough childhood that sent the grumpy guy up to Mt. Crumpit.

The movie gets even more haughty in its depiction of the Whos, those mild, fun-loving creatures who celebrated the spirit of Christmas even after all of their presents had been stolen in Geisel's book. Here, they're the meanies who picked on the young Grinch, snotty elitists who race from store to store stockpiling presents and drowning their town in Christmas decorations. There's even a scene in which the Grinch ...