 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Review Date: May 18, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Sugarplum of a movie based on Dr. Seuss of course.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is rated PG for brief crude humor (the Grinch tricks another character into kissing a dog's rear end) and comic peril. The movie may be too intense and overwhelming for children under 6 or 7. The movie's one major drawback is the near-absence of people of color in Whoville. Families that do not celebrate Christmas may also have some concerns about the movie.
What's the story?
Based on the classic Christmas story by Dr. Seuss, this is the story of a Christmas-hating Grinch who tries to steal Christmas from the Christmas-loving Whos by taking all of their presents and decorations. But they and he come to realize that Christmas is in their hearts, not under their trees. The movie seamlessly expands the story to let us explore Whoville and its residents and to tell us just how the Grinch came to hate Christmas in the first place.
Is it any good?
Audiences will feel like their own hearts are two sizes too large at the end of this wonderful sugarplum of a movie. Whoville, as imagined by production designer Michael Corenblith, is the most breathtakingly magical setting since Dorothy landed in Munchkinland. The structures suspend the laws of gravity; there are a fantastic series of archways, bridges, stairs and spirals. Whoville clothes and hairstyles echo these shapes and then are topped with candy canes, cups of hot chocolate, and frosted cookies.
Jim Carrey and the Grinch were made for each other, while newcomer Taylor Momsen, as Cindy Lou Who, is adorable without being sugary. The settings and costumes and the Grinch himself are so mesmerizing that it would be easy to miss the rest of the cast, but Bill Irwin as Cindy Lou's harried mailman father, Jeffrey Tambor as the vain mayor, and Christine Baranksi as a Who with Christmas decorations that would make Martha Stewart gnash her teeth in envy all make vivid impressions. The script has some clever lines, including a parody of the film's director (former Andy Griffith Show star Ron Howard) and a dig at those who say that "kids today are desensitized by movies and television." Another of the movie's great joys is hearing Anthony Hopkins reads Seuss' words the way we have always heard them in our hearts.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why it is so easy to forget the simple pleasures of the winter holidays, and how damaging it can be to peoples' feelings to tease them about being different. The Grinch often does things that he thinks will make him feel better. Do they work? Do they help him forget his loneliness? Why not? Why doesn't being bad feel as good as you might think?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Skip the first half for kids younger than 9.
My 6 year old was scared of the first half of the movie because the grinch is mean and scary. The second half was better though when the grinch is still mean but in a funny way. My older kids laughed throughout the movie, so it's better for kids age 9 or older.
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AGE
Watch the original
The original 1966 version is much, much, better! Watch that one instead!
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Kid, 10 years old
December 20, 2010
AGE
Scary for young kids, but perfect for elementary schoolers.
Your kids are going to love it, but too scary for toddlers. Although there is crude humor, this movie is good. The lesson is powerful, and Cindy is a great model. This movie is so-so.
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AGE
the crude humor definetly earns the PG rateing!
This movie is very fun and enjoyable i will edmit but i do not think that the crude humor was neccesary i mean this is aimed at very young kids! The crude humpr that is in it is very inapropreat even though it's brief and there is some very brief peril. I say this gringhy tale is OFF for ages 1-5 IFFY for ages 6-7 and ON for age 8+.
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AGE
Pass...give the kids something better.
The original (cartoon 1966 version is better). This one is crude. Plain and simple.
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AGE
Hilarious Live Action Version of Christmas Classic!
Jim Carry from the beginning takes the Grinch and makes him his own, and makes the character more sympathetic than the original animated version. The story itself is more rich and helps us all understand why the Grinch hates are favorite Jolly Holiday. The settings and costumes are marvelous and so fantastic, that you can only wish you could live in Whoville! But even though there are some changes to the famous story, it actually stays true to what we know and love and even improves it a bit. The film sure is extremely hilarious, which will make adults enjoy the film even more. But the films humor and violence may be a bit iffy for some children.
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AGE
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch..."
This has always been my favorite Christmas movie. I love Jim Carrey as the Grinch. It used to fascinate me as a toddler, and I loved the colors. Common Sense missed a couple of things in the sexuality department; the Grinch lands on Martha May Whovier with his face in her chest. I love this movie and I can't wait until Christmas rolls around so I can watch it again!!
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Kid, 12 years old
January 23, 2011
AGE
This is a funny movie! I think other kids are going to love this movie.
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AGE
This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's clean, other than some crude humor. I think it's okay for 7+.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, book characters, holidays |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Ron Howard |
| Cast: | Christine Baranski, Jeffrey Tambor, Jim Carrey |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 17, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | November 19, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild peril and brief crude humor |
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