How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Director Ron Howard’s live-action film of the Dr. Seuss holiday classic (written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, heavily influenced by Chuck Jones’ brilliant 1966 cartoon) has its heart in the right place, along with clever art direction (Michael Corenblith) and an agile, inventive performance by Jim Carrey, perfectly cast in the title role. This film is best when re-creating the Jones version in minute detail; otherwise, it’s a prime example of exactly what’s wrong with Hollywood: mechanical ingenuity without real imagination. In inflating the simple story to feature length, the film adds plot elements that must have the good doctor sputtering in his grave (the Grinch is merely misunderstood, the denizens of Who-ville are too materialistic, etc.).