The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, played by Jim Carrey, has been a Christmas classic for almost 2 decades now! The movie captures the soulful meaning of Christmas and is amusing to watch time and time again. The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, is the cartoon version of this timeless movie. The storyline is based on a Dr. Seuss’ book, explaining the wacky makeup of the characters.

The story is centered in a town that goes by the name of ‘Whoville’. The town screams Christmas with vivid lights and astonishing decorations. All of the ‘Whos’ adore Christmas and live their lives around preparing for Christmas day with the exception of ‘Grinch’. He was green. You read right, green and quite hairy; and he was bullied for it all throughout his childhood. He began to hate Christmas and moved to the very top of a mountain to create his lair. He ate garbage and lived a dingy lifestyle. He smelt like garbage too. Grinch had planned to steal every last decoration and present that had to do with Christmas. He wanted no part in the Whos’ Christmas traditions until one brave and outgoing girl changed his mind – Cindy Lou Hoo. The Whos woke up on Christmas morning to a blank canvas. This is when we realize that the florid decorations and lavish presents aren’t what truly lie at the heart of Christmas. It’s the family, the joy, and the pure happiness we surround ourselves with.

In The Grinch, we don’t get to focus as much on Grinch’s childhood and upbringing. In my opinion this affected the plot greatly. It didn’t show us why exactly Grinch hated Christmas so much. Why did he hate Christmas with such an extraordinary passion? Also no one really disliked Grinch, unlike in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, where it was almost taboo to even say his name.

The movie was adorable to say the least, but I think it lost its true meaning. The storyline was rushed and the real message of Christmas wasn’t as prevalent as I had hoped. Cindy Lou Hoo doesn’t build a bond with Grinch and doesn’t have the same impact she did when played by Taylor Momsen in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I don’t think Grinch truly learned his lesson. He was too soft all around. Even his house was spotless and decorated. While typically Grinch’s house was supposed to look like something out of the bottom of a dumpster. I think more time should have been dedicated to Grinch and Cindy Lou Hoo’s relationship to further express the love that should surround Christmas not the superficial and commercial Christmases we’re used to!