IGN.com|AskMen.com|Rotten Tomatoes|GameSpy|FilePlanet|TeamXbox|CheatsCodesGuides|GameStats|Direct2Drive

RottenTomatoes.com

Register | Log In | What is RT?
It's our 10th birthday, so you get presents!
Home Movies DVD Celebrities News Critics Photos & Trailers The Vine Forums
Box Office | Best Of | Certified Fresh | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
 
MOVIES / ON DVD / HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Rate This Movie

Write a Review
See Pictures
Share This Movie
Add to List
Buy Poster

Bookmark and Share

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

53%
63%
57%
N/A
N/A
N/A
53 %
Reviews Counted: 123 Fresh: 65  Rotten:58 Average Rating: 5.6/10
 
Consensus: Jim Carrey shines as the Grinch. Unfortunately, it's not enough to save this movie. You'd be better off watching the TV cartoon.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Synopsis: Director Ron Howard casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role in this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, giving this rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a delightfully manic spin. Carrey is virtually unrecognizable in his elaborate green makeup, but... Director Ron Howard casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role in this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, giving this rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a delightfully manic spin. Carrey is virtually unrecognizable in his elaborate green makeup, but his anarchic comic touch is unmistakable. He manages to fully embody the grumpy title character, while still supplying his own comedic touches, and it is his performance that makes the film a treat for adults and children alike. The candy-colored set design for the town of Whoville and the jubilant score contribute to the overall feeling of innocuous fantasy that the Grinch disrupts with his dastardly deeds. The familiar story of the Grinch stealing every present in town on Christmas Eve has been expanded to incorporate flashbacks to the Grinch's childhood, which serve to explain his hostility toward the Whos. As Cindy Lou-Who, a little girl so sweet she sees goodness even in the Grinch, young Taylor Momsen strikes just the right note of adorable ingenuousness. Howard gets the performance the film needs from her, as her character makes the Grinch's eventual change of heart both believable and touching. [More]

Genre: Childrens

Starring: Jim Carrey, Molly Shannon, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Verne Troyer

Director: Ron Howard
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman
Producer: Brian Grazer
Composer: James Horner

DVD Info

Release:

Sep 11, 2007

[DVD Details]

HD DVD Features:

  • Note: This is a HD-DVD/DVD hybrid, playable on HD-DVD and standard DVD players.
  • Side A: HD DVD
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
  • Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround - English, French
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English, French
  • Dolby Digital DTS 5.1 Surround - English
  • Subtitles - English (SDH), French, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - Enhanced Feature Commentary With Ron Howard - Director
  • Side B: Standard Definition
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English, French
  • Dolby Digital DTS 5.1 Surround - English
  • Subtitles - English (SDH), French - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - Enhanced Feature Commentary With Ron Howard - Director
  • Featurette - 1. WHOBILATION 1000 GAMES
  • 2. WHOLIDAY RECIPES
  • 3. Special Announcement: Wendy's PSA

Reviews

 
T-Meter Critics
 
 
Top Critics
 
 
RT Community
 
 
My Critics
 
 
My Friends
 
 
DVD
 
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
Ratings Image
N/A

This cinematic candy floss honours the Seussian universe by satirising our own. And Carrey's comic tornado of a performance is a triumph.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

Colourful adaptation of the children’s classic by Dr Seuss, redeemed by a combination of Jim Carrey’s manic performance, the sets and the make-up.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
3.5/5

Definitely worth adding to the Christmas movie pantheon, but not at the expense of the original.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/10/01
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
3/5

Howard has certainly nailed the playfully eccentric other world of Whoville.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/16/01
Michael Thomson
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/4

One of the ugliest movies ever perpetrated on a mass audience.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/07/01
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

Carrey, with another ground-breaking performance, single-handedly elevates it to something much better.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Adam Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

Five-year-olds might go for it, but people who grew up with Jones' version will be looking at their watches and grinding their teeth.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
David Edelstein
Slate
Ratings Image
N/A

Cloying fancy gives way to gross-out comedy, twisted social commentary, affecting pathos, and weirdly sexualized romance in this lurid live-action version of the classic children's book.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image
3/4

Parents can relax: Ron Howard's version of Dr. Seuss' tale of the Christmas-napping Grinch is a smartly stylized hoot.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
Steve Simels
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Ratings Image
N/A

Shrill, strenuous and entirely without charm.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/05/08
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

The costumes astound, the sight gags abound, but the heart, oh the heart, now that must be found.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/29/07
Vera H-C Chan
Contra Costa Times
Ratings Image
1/5

...A jumbled mess, art-directed to within an inch of its life...

Full Review | comment Comment
09/24/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
C

Unfortunately, Ron Howard is the Grinch who stole Christmas from Jim Carrey.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/21/07
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Ratings Image
2/4

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Ratings Image
2.5/4

A holiday gift, The Grinch just may steal the hearts of kids and grown-ups alike.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/20/06
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
Ratings Image
2.5/5

Universal Pictures has definitely left something under your Christmas tree, but you might want to clean it up soon before it leaves a permanent stain.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Chris Gore
Film Threat
Ratings Image
N/A

In adding material, The Grinch loses much of its rhythm and the heart within it shrinks three sizes right along with it.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/10/03
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views
Ratings Image
2/4

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is thick with irony but doesn't have the guts to explore any of it.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/23/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Ratings Image
5/5

If God is in the details, then this is the most righteous movie ever made.Jim Carrey is the only man deserving to interpret Chuck Jones' animation.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/03/03
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina
Ratings Image
B+

It's funny, it's sincere and it's gloriously bizarre.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/22/03
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums

It's not the original-but it's still good
by: Barnabas Richmore 5/22


What's up w/ Grinch Who Stole... on VHS & DVD?
by: supernothingman 12/15/04


Why so critical about this movie?
by: stevejaquithnok 12/15/04


The Grinch That Stole The Plot
by: Tom 6/25/01


Loved it as much as the Whos love Christmas
by: Cindy Lou Who 1/28/01
all

Pictures

all

News

Trailer Bulletin: Horton Hears a Who
posted by Scott Weinberg August 01, 2007
The last few times somebody tried to turn Dr. Seuss into a movie, the results were ... How the Grinch Stole Christmas and...


Jim Carrey Talks About Voicing Dr. Seuss' "Horton"
posted by Fred Topel February 05, 2007
Jim Carrey did such a bang up job as the live-action "Grinch" that he's landed himself another Dr. Seuss gig....


Funny Men Carrey, Carell Re-Team for "Who"
posted by Binh Ngo September 13, 2006
Jim Carrey is teaming up with Dr. Seuss once more, and this time, Steve Carell is tagging, The reason? Probably because...


Critical Consensus: "Dick & Jane" Not Much Fun; "Cheaper" Is Bankrupt
posted by Tim Ryan December 21, 2005
This week's wide releases include a remake ("Fun With Dick and Jane") and a sequel to a remake...

Around the Network

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Rotten Tomatoes
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at IGN
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas at AskMen
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | ModCenter | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2008, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.