Intermission: 'Grinch' can't compare with Dr. Seuss's original

"Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas"

Directed by: Ron Howard

Starring: Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen

Rated: PG

Before there was "Sesame Street," before there was "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" or "Schoolhouse Rock," kids starting with the baby boomers have grown up with the writings of Dr. Seuss, also known as Theodore Geisel.

The good doctor hit it big in the late 1950s with his "Cat in the Hat" series, "Green Eggs and Ham," and other tales featuring the Whos, McBoing Boings and Loraxes. He was a great writer who influenced the lives of countless former and current children around the world.

Ron Howard, too, is a lifelong companion of the baby boomers. From Opie to Richie to his fairly spotless record as a film director, Howard has been a mainstay of the entertainment business for more than 40 years. "Apollo 13" is his peak thus far, but all of his films, from "Night Shift" and "Grand Theft Auto," to "Backdraft" and "The Princess Bride," have been well-crafted, entertaining pieces of work.

I know his heart must have been in his current project but somewhere along the line, the production of "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas" went somewhat awry.

Special effects and gadgetry are in abundance but the overall look of the film is dull and murky and the characters aren't developed to their full potential. Seuss could sum up the inhabitants of his stories in a few quatrains, but onscreen, the Grinch and the populace of Whoville are never quite as engaging as Seuss made them.

Thankfully, Jim Carrey in the title role is all but unrecognizable here, and playing a cartoon character gives him little room to make his portrayal too "cartoonish" as he's done so many painful times in the past.

In the book, the message that Seuss seems to be putting forth is that the Christmas spirit is a precious feeling that cannot be purchased. I didn't get quite the same message from the film and at times found it coming across like a lavish television spot for Toys R Us. Not surprisingly (as those who know me would probably say) I sided with Mr. Grinch a lot more than the materialistically driven Whos. Listen, I don't hate the holidays because I'm not filled with tidings of comfort and joy. I just think we should spread that feeling out 365 days a year. The fact that Christmas of late seems to have more to do with the mall than the manger is another argument and maybe that's what has the Grinch so upset.

Do I really need to go into the plot? Nearly every cognizant human being in the civilized world has read the book, seen the cartoon version or at least been made aware of the concept of this now traditional tale.

To sum it up briefly:

The universe (that would be Whoville in this case) lives and loves Christmas while the mean old outcast Mr. Grinch does not. As Yuletide approaches, a sweet little girl, Cindy Lou Who, finds herself losing a bit of the spirit herself and she becomes convinced that the old Grinch is probably just a sad, lonely and utterly misunderstood guy. She even nominates him to preside over Whoville's holiday festivities. The Whos are all shocked, but in the end, it's a merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

It all works better in Seuss's book than in Howard's film but without a doubt, this will be one of the biggest box office hits of the year.

For my money, read your kids the book or watch the cartoon version that was produced in the 1960s and pops up countless times on cable this time of year. It's also available on videocassette.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)