Every Christmas classic brings its own unique talent to the table, but there's perhaps no festive film quite like How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), which stars Jim Carrey as the green-furred miser of Mount Crumpit! But is How the Grinch Stole Christmas family-friendly?
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The film is based on the classic book of the same name, about a green creature who lives at the top of Mount Crumpit, which overlooks Whoville, whose residents go crazy at Christmas, competing like it's some kind of game. The Whos go completely frantic when it comes to the season of goodwill, but the Grinch, who is played by Jim Carrey, does not, and he resists all things merry!
The story finds, on one particular Christmas, when his heart is three sizes too small, the Grinch decides he's going to take Christmas from the Whos and ruin it for them all. But when he meets young Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen), a Who who sees some good in him, the Grinch begins to learn that Christmas might just have some meaning, that it might be about more than just "things".
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On its surface, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is indeed a family affair. After all, the book is, and so is every other adaptation (of the animated variety) you'll find out there. The live-action film, however, might seem harmless, but the truth is it's not (although that doesn't mean that it's charmless).
There are a surprising number of innuendos throughout this movie, particularly the scenes between the Grinch and his life-long love interest Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski). The themes, however, are as family-friendly as those you'll find in any Christmas feature, despite this one starring a mean, green, Christmas-hating creature.
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Although there is something about this film that's surprisingly scary, and it has nothing to do with the one character who's frightfully hairy. The Whos themselves are more likely to make you scream, because their prosthetics make them look like something out of a particularly bad fever dream. Little Cindy Lou, however, is as cute as they come, and brings to the film plenty of charm and whimsy and fun.
So go ahead and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, because, for the most part, it's a family-friendly affair. It's just that director Ron Howard decided to throw in the odd adult joke here and there! The chances are, though, that they'll go over the kids' heads, and they certainly don't warrant sending them all to bed!
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As per Universal Pictures, here's the synopsis for How the Grinch Stole Christmas:
You Better Watch Out! He's green... he's mean... and he hates Christmas!
The Grinch is a bad tempered hairy green creatures, who lives inside a cave atop Mount Crumpit, overlooking the village of Whoville.
As the Whos of Whoville frantically prepare for their yuletide celebrations, The Grinch decides to put a stop to Christmas once and for all, and steals all their presents and decorations on Christmas Eve... only to finally come to learn that the true spirit of Christmas goes much deeper than tinsel and toys.
The hilarious Jim Carrey spectacularly brings The Grinch to life in this magical live-action comedy which is based on the wonderfully quirky and well-loved book "Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas stars Jim Carrey (the Grinch), Taylor Momsen (Cindy Lou), Jeffrey Tambor (Mayor Augustus MayWho), Christine Baranski (Martha May Whovier), and Anthony Hopkins (the narrator).
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