Reel Review Roundup

The Grinch (G)

Directed by: Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones

Three stars

Review by Julian Wright

Proving every week, and leaving us all in disbelieve, that Hollywood has not yet run out of things to remake, here is yet another story re-told.

Despite recent versions of popular property still fresh in our minds, the high rollers keep churning them out for a third, fourth and fifth version.

At least it has been almost 20 years since Jim Carrey donned the green make-up as the Christmas-time grump for Ron Howard in How The Grinch Stole Christmas; it was only eight years ago we saw Russell Crowe work on his aim as Robin Hood.

While the chirpy residents of Whoville prepare for the most wonderful time of the year – Christmas – The Grinch, perched up on his isolated mountain-top house, begins plotting to ruin it.

Despite a compact run time, this is often times a plodding film. Assuming no one has ever seen any of the other versions previously made, it seems to take its sweet time setting up the Grinch’s plan.

Despite the mid-section lulls and activities on screen that mostly revolve around a group of cutely charactersised young children which would only appeal to the same age group, there is still some juice left.

Visually, it is a kaleidoscope of gorgeously rendered colours, making it one of the more dazzling animations to look at. And you simply can’t go past the perfectly timed message of unconditional happiness and love when the world right now is so bleak. It really is infectious.

With a final 20 minutes that would surely melt the heart of even the coldest grinch film-goer, this has the potential to be played on high rotation in family homes during the festive season.

Watch the trailer here.

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