The Grinch (2018)

This film was certainly better than the one with Jim Carrey. That one was mean spirited, and he looked down right scary. This one, if you'll put nostalgia aside and just take a look, I think you'll find is much truer to the book. Yes, it's true that this version still has filler plot, but it's luckily just enough, not a whole lot. Now this next statement may cause you to give me guff, but one of my problems was the Grinch wasn't mean enough. In the cartoon and other movie, he's abusive to Max. But in this version, that is something it lacks. The Grinch in this version isn't mean, just kind of a jerk. And I feel that is something that just did not work. But the animation is gorgeous and full of life. The live action version's colors were muted, which caused me great strife. The voice acting by Benedict Cumberbatch was a delight, although at times his voice just did not sound right. "Overconsumerism is bad": The film's message rings clear. Although with all the marketing and tie-ins, the irony seems to be lost here. It's pretty cookie cutter, there aren't many surprises. It did not make my heart grow nor shrink three sizes. It's pretty good animation for a $75 million budget. Though everyone looked a bit like a CGI Muppet. This is still a good attempt by Illumination, for, for all of it's flaws it at least had dedication.
Grade: C   7/10    3.5/5 stars