'The Grinch' Tones Down Meanness for Sentimentality

Directed by Yarrow Cheney & Scott Mosier

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams, Kenan Thompson, Cameron Seely, Angela Lansbury

BY Alex HudsonPublished Nov 8, 2018

7
The original Grinch is a holiday classic
The Jim Carrey remake couldn't capture the magic.
This new one is not as good as the first
But the message is sweet, so it isn't the worst.
 
The 1966 film was just 26 minutes.
This new one is 90, with more story in it.
Cindy Lou Who gets a much bigger part
And the Grinch's backstory really tugs at the heart.
 
He's not all that mean, Grinch seems sympathetic
He's just very lonely, and his lifestyle's hermetic.
He had a bad childhood, so you can't help but root
For his eventual salvation, plus his dog Max is cute.
 
The Grinch, who is voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch
Lashes out against Christmas, and a plot he does hatch
To dress up as Santa and head to the town
Then steal all the presents and take Christmas down.
 
But it turns out he's not the only one feeling alone
There's Cindy Lou's mom, voiced by Rashida Jones.
She has three children, with no partner to be found
Cindy Lou has a scheme to turn mom's life around.
 
She wants to capture Santa, and get his assistance
In giving her mom a more relaxing existence.
Townsperson Kenan Thompson is the funniest part
He has goofball silliness down to an art.
 
The Dr. Seuss book gets a modern new flavour,
With a soundtrack of Brockhampton and Tyler, The Creator.
The 3D animation is a pleasure to behold
While Pharrell's rhyming narration gives a hint of the old.
 
This comes from the studio that once brought us Minions
So kid-friendly humour is in their dominion.
Towards the film's climax, the drama's tear-jerking
If it's trying to be saccharine, it's certainly working.
 
But sentimentality is part of the deal
With holiday films that want to give you the feels.
So if writing this as a poem seems cheesy
It's in the spirit of the film, so in the comments, go easy!
 
(Universal)

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