The Grinch (2018)
The Grinch (2018)
The Grinch, also known as Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, is an animated Christmas comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination. It is the third screen adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Illumination’s second Dr. Seuss film adaptation, after The Lorax in 2012. The film follows the Grinch, who plans to stop Whoville’s Christmas celebration by stealing all the town’s decorations and gifts with his pet dog Max. The Grinch’s heart is “two sizes too small,” and he lives in his cave with his dog Max. One day, 6-year-old Cindy Lou Who notices her single mother Donna is overworked and decides to send a letter to Santa Claus. After an encounter with the Grinch, she decides to go to the North Pole to talk to Santa himself. When Donna tells her it would take a month, she decides to try trapping Santa with the help of her friends.
The Grinch, unable to bear the memories of his disjointed childhood, decides to steal Christmas from Whoville to alleviate his distress. He and Max acquire a fat reindeer, Fred, and steal a sleigh from Bricklebaum. After a test run, they discover Fred has a family, and the Grinch agrees to let Fred go home with them.
On Christmas Eve, the Grinch and Max go to Whoville to steal decorations and presents. They encounter Cindy Lou, who offers to help lighten her mother’s workload and advises listening to the Whos’ singing to alleviate his sadness. Despite the disappointment, the Grinch continues his mission, unable to let go of the loneliness Christmas brought him.
The Whos wake up to find the presents and decorations gone, and Cindy Lou blames her for the trap. Donna tells her that Christmas is not centered on presents and that Cindy Lou is the best thing that ever happened to her. The Whos sing “Welcome Christmas,” making the Grinch puzzled to see them celebrating despite his thefts.
The Grinch saves the sleigh from falling off Mount Crumpit, and he admits his actions and apologizes to the Whos before returning to his cave. Cindy Lou invites him and Max to celebrate Christmas at her house, and he realizes that it was not really Christmas he despised but rather his solitude and bitterness over being neglected. With this, the Grinch finally accepts the Whos’ friendship and enjoys Christmas with them with a toast.
