The Grinch

Yes, it's The Grinch, that Dr. Seuss fiend
who stole Christmas 'til his scruples intervened.
Played once by Karloff and then by Jim Carrey,
Benedict Cumberbatch is him in film number three.

The Grinch would rather avoid the Whos on Christmas
But the Whos' holiday this year is ambitious.
It's three times bigger than ever. It's almost here.
If only the Grinch can make the pain disappear.

But that's what he'll do with his dog, Max.
Dress up as Santa and take all their knick-knacks,
And their presents and fun and decorations galore
Christmas won't bother him anymore!

But one Cindy-Lou Who, who's older than two,
Wants none for herself but mom Donna Lou.
But her plan to catch Santa and let him know
Will make The Grinch's little heart grow.

This Seussical expansion gives The Grinch a sympathetic backstory and new characters to interact with. The most memorable are the cheery Who Mr. Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson), the mayor of Whoville (Angelea Lansburry), and Fred the Reindeer. Cindy Lou Who's new subplot has some funny and nice bits. Pharrel Williams was great as the Narrator; his dialogue fits right in with the story. It breezes by for a nice 90 minutes.

And the Grinch himself? Cumberbatch delightfully hams it up as Whoville's resident grump. His maniacal scheming is entertaining. His desperate and lonely side is believable. When his Grand Theft Christmas fails, he is emotionally confused rather than supervillain confused. And his acceptance into Who society was great.

The character and scenic designs are appealing CGI realizations of Seuss. Details like the Christmas decorations and the Grinch's gadgets are diverse and colorful. Danny Elfman's score fits right in with the silliness and sadness. It makes wonderful use of the cartoon version's Welcome Christmas.

The Grinch is a fun take on the oft-told story. It doesn't hit low like the 2000 film. But its pace wasn't that tight. Was it just me or were the Grinch's backstory flashbacks too sparse? Then again, its story of redeeming the grumpy and bitter is as great now as it was back then. It's a good matinee for the holiday season. It's not exactly Christmas now, but it's sure to get you in the mood.