Keep your presents close because the Grinch just returned to steal the merriness of Christmas yet again. The third Grinch movie came to theaters Nov. 9. In keeping with the classic spirit of the Grinch, much of the movie closely follows the storyline of the original. If you don’t like spoilers, read no further.
The Grinch continues to live in his grand mansion on the precipice of a mountain. His only companion is his ever faithful dog Max, and the Grinch continues to suffer from a heart two sizes too small. Once again, the Grinch intends to make everyone in Whoville as miserable as he is by stealing Christmas. However, there are some major differences that make this Grinch movie unique and worth seeing.
In this adaption of the classic Christmas film, the Grinch is a slightly kinder, more compassionate being. He clearly values his connection with Max and sees him not just as a servant but as his only friend. While the Grinch plots to steal Christmas, another storyline develops. Cindy Loo Hoo intends to catch Santa to ask him for a favor. In this movie, we learn more about Cindy Loo Hoo and her mother and twin brothers, compared to the other two in which we only see her family for seconds at a time. Her mother is a hard working single parent, and her baby twin brothers drive her mother crazy. Cindy Loo Hoo still manages to catch the Grinch, whom she believes to be Santa, since he’s emptying gifts in her home.
The new Grinch has all of the qualities of the first two. He has all of the charm as the others. This is a movie for the family to watch together. The idea of celebrating with those closest to you is stronger in the third movie. The audience understood the Grinch’s emotions along with Cindy Loo Hoo’s thoughts and feelings. There is a strong emphasis on the idea of putting others first.
If you love the original and are eager to see a kinder, more compassionate Grinch, then this movie is a great choice.
