'The Grinch' animated movie reviewed by LI kids
Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely) shares the holiday spirit with the Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) in "The Grinch," which opens Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Credit: Illumination and Universal Pictures
We previewed the new remake of “The Grinch,” a fully animated feature film, before it opens to the public for the holiday season.
The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch. We thought he played the part so well. He was funny and mean all at the same time. He was a perfect fit as the voice of the Grinch. His neighbor was played by Kenan Thompson, who was hilarious! He was always so jolly and added an element of humor. The part of Cindy Lou Who was played by newcomer Cameron Seely. She was adorable in the role, and when her character was on the screen, you smiled because she was just so cute.
The tale of “The Grinch” is not a new one. He has one unhappy Christmas as a child, and from then on dislikes everything Christmas. His dog, Max, keeps him company in his lonely mountaintop cave. The Whos in Whoville love Christmas. The Grinch decides to steal Christmas from them but is thwarted when he comes across the adorable Cindy Lou Who. In this version we meet some new characters, but with the same charm as the Dr. Seuss tale.
One great moment in the movie is the scene in which the Grinch is hanging off the cliff with the presents. Another sweet moment is when Cindy tells the Grinch about her mom, and the Grinch understands her and realizes what he did wrong. She tells him her Christmas wish for her mom. It was such a heart-tugging moment because you realize that the Grinch cares about what she says. He actually has a heart.
This movie is suited for everyone — the whole family can watch and enjoy it. It wasn’t super-long, so kids in the age range of 6 to 12 can sit for the whole thing and not get bored. Parents will get a laugh out of it too, because they probably remember the original and will have a little nostalgia for the old Grinch.
We would rate it 4.5 smiles out of 5 simply because it has been remade so many times and sometimes it can feel repetitive, but there were many new moments added to this version. Otherwise, it is a great family classic that puts you in the mood for the upcoming holidays.
