Christmas is Impossible to Hate in 'The Grinch'

United International Pictures

The grumpy, green, hairy, Christmas hater is back to steal the holiday from everyone. This time, he's not a live action figure played by Jim Carrey. Instead, it's Benedict Cumberbatch taking a stab as the voice of the newest The Grinch.

Staying true to the Seussian spirit, the film tells the timeless story of the Christmas thief Grinch who had a change of his 'two sizes too small' heart after a little girl from Who-ville showed him what Christmas is really all about.

Of course, a film about The Grinch wouldn't be The Grinch without the endless cynicism. It's all in the beginning of the film where it almost makes hating Christmas a little bit fun. Since everyone is positive, especially in Who-ville where everyone celebrates Christmas like it's the only event in the world, Grinch does his best to ruin the community's source of joy. It's hilarious to watch him kill everyone's positivity and the film doesn't want you to feel sorry for it. It actually wants you to laugh at him while he gets even more mad.

United International Pictures

And you won't be sorry for him because he actually has company in Max, the cute sidekick dog who refuses to leave him despite his bad attitude. And with another new found friend, a fat reindeer named Fred, they become an unlikely dysfunctional team. With Fred and Max's innocence and cuteness plus Grinch's hatred and mishaps, they balance each other out and they make the film even more likable than it already is.

United International Pictures

It also helps a lot that the whole Who-ville looks incredibly colorful and flashy, and the animated little citizens are as cute as a button, making The Grinch a stand out. Benedict Cumberbatch's voice makes him even more distinct from the rest especially when it has Rashida Jones' soft and playful voice as the little girl Cindy Lou Who, and Pharell Williams' pleasant and calming poetry narration.

As negative as The Grinch is known for, it's also a certified heartwarmer. The film poetically explained where Grinch's negativity is coming from, and it feels justified to a point where he becomes agreeable and sympathetic. Even after stealing everyone's "Christmas". But as we know, his Christmas is about decorations and lights when it's completely the other way around for the rest despite their community's facade. It has always been about belongingness and at the end of the day, that's also what Grinch dreams to have.

Being faithful to Dr. Seuss' story is what this film needs and it grants us that. It gives us another reason why Christmas is impossible to hate in spite of the pleasure we get when The Grinch tries to destroy it.