How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Rent & Buy
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
What critics thought
Jim Carrey's committed, physically exhausting performance is the film's one point of near-universal agreement — critics split sharply over whether that's enough. Supporters saw him energizing Ron Howard's lavish but airless production; detractors felt the surrounding film was too dull and cynical for even Carrey's rubber-faced genius to rescue. The production design drew particular criticism for failing to capture the warmth of the source material.
“Carrey works as hard as an actor has ever worked in a movie, to small avail”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Carrey pulls off an admirable impersonation of an animated figure ... It's fine as mimicry goes—but mimicry isn't the best playground for comic genius.”
Stephanie Zacharek·Salon
“if he's not in the scene, there is no scene”
Paul Clinton·CNN
“Carrey enables Ron Howard's version of the classic story to come across as more of a welcome endeavor than a pointless re-tread.”
James Berardinelli·ReelViews
“Carrey's free-flowing tirades, full of catch-all allusions and references, are pitched for adult appreciation”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Ron HowardDirector
Jim CarreyGrinch
Taylor MomsenCindy Lou Who
Jeffrey TamborMayor Augustus Maywho
Christine BaranskiMartha May Whovier
Bill IrwinLou Lou Who
Molly ShannonBetty Lou Who
Clint HowardWhobris
Josh Ryan Evans8-Year-Old Grinch
Mindy SterlingClarnella
Bryce Dallas HowardSurprised Who
Lacey KohlChristina Whoterberry
Rachel WinfreeRose
James HornerComposer
Peter S. SeamanWriter
Jeffrey PriceWriter
Donald PetermanCinematographyHow the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
What critics thought
Jim Carrey's committed, physically exhausting performance is the film's one point of near-universal agreement — critics split sharply over whether that's enough. Supporters saw him energizing Ron Howard's lavish but airless production; detractors felt the surrounding film was too dull and cynical for even Carrey's rubber-faced genius to rescue. The production design drew particular criticism for failing to capture the warmth of the source material.
“Carrey works as hard as an actor has ever worked in a movie, to small avail”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Carrey pulls off an admirable impersonation of an animated figure ... It's fine as mimicry goes—but mimicry isn't the best playground for comic genius.”
Stephanie Zacharek·Salon
“if he's not in the scene, there is no scene”
Paul Clinton·CNN
“Carrey enables Ron Howard's version of the classic story to come across as more of a welcome endeavor than a pointless re-tread.”
James Berardinelli·ReelViews
“Carrey's free-flowing tirades, full of catch-all allusions and references, are pitched for adult appreciation”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Ron HowardDirectorJim CarreyGrinchTaylor MomsenCindy Lou WhoJeffrey TamborMayor Augustus MaywhoChristine BaranskiMartha May WhovierBill IrwinLou Lou WhoMolly ShannonBetty Lou WhoClint HowardWhobrisJosh Ryan Evans8-Year-Old GrinchMindy SterlingClarnellaBryce Dallas HowardSurprised WhoLacey KohlChristina WhoterberryRachel WinfreeRoseJames HornerComposerPeter S. SeamanWriterJeffrey PriceWriterDonald PetermanCinematographyRent & Buy