Tuesday, December 11, 2018

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - 'Toon Reviews Shorty


If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:
Most of us know that there are plenty of Christmas specials to look forward to every year.  For me, watching the great ones throughout the holiday season is one of my favorite traditions.  In fact, I get a pleasure out of reviewing any sort of Christmas material whether they’re standalone specials or Christmas episodes of certain shows.  Basically, Christmas specials are the easiest thing for me to make an MC Toon Reviews Shorty out of.  Now, when it comes to Christmas specials, there’s a select few of what people consider the all-time greats.  They’re the kinds of special that first came out when television was first on the rise and we’re loved enough for millions to tune into them ever since.  From what I understand, I have already covered a couple of them in my Peanuts special reviews and Rankin/Bass special reviews.  For this Shorty, I’m going to talk about a beloved Christmas special right up there with the best of those companies.  From the incomparable imagination of Dr. Seuss, this is:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Told by Boris Karloff
Widely Available on DVD and Blu-Ray
(December 18, 1966)
The works of Dr. Seuss are some of the most popular in children’s literature.  From the fresh perspective of illustrations to the genius rhyme schemes, it’s no wonder why they’ve stood the test of time.  Some works introduce kids to reading accompanied by fun-looking visuals. Others are off-the-wall stories where both the visuals and writing bring an unforgettable creative and thought-provoking experience.  With How the Grinch Stole Christmas, this is a story of the latter category, and its thought-provoking through exploring a common perspective on Christmas.
Around the season, it’s common to see homes, stores, and other places decked with many decorations, festive music playing, and people rushing to get big flashy gifts.  This is basically commercialization of Christmas at its most blatant.  Though most people seem to find all of this great fun, myself included, it’s understandable that some can get annoyed and aggressively overwhelmed with the holiday glamor.  This was the basis for Dr. Seuss to write the story of the Grinch in 1957.  According to my research, while he felt like the Cat in the Hat (which by the way was originally published in the same year) on good days, he was like the Grinch on bad days.  It’s no wonder that this would give him the inspiration to write a story about a sheltered creature majorly bothered by Christmas and the materialistic goods that come with it.  In fact, just as the Grinch says he’s put up with Christmas for 53 years, Dr. Seuss was 53 years old at the time.  The main point of the story was so he could rediscover something about Christmas he lost.  That right there is a very noble goal for the story to take, and it really shows in the actual material. 
The Grinch is easily identifiable with anyone who’s ever been bothered by Christmas and its commercialism.  Really, anyone can get annoyed by the public making such a big deal over decorations, presents, etc. For that, the most reasonable explanation why the Grinch is like this is just because.  There doesn’t need to be a deep tragic backstory.  It’s just an inevitable outcome.  The basic trait is all the motivation the Grinch needs to think that he can stop Christmas all together just by stealing the materialistic goods from the adjacent town of Whoville.  By the end, just as he’s about to throw everything away, he realizes that the Whos are just as merry and jolly for Christmas as ever without their décor and gifts.  The truth is, it’s not the amenities that make Christmas.  It’s the feeling of goodwill, peace, and togetherness that can never be taken.  Sure the amenities can help emphasize all these virtues, but the virtues themselves are still always there, and that’s why there’s a day honoring them.  That’s a very powerful message that often tends to get overlooked by those overwhelmed by the holiday rush.  However, with an old curmudgeon like the Grinch seeing the true meaning of the season, there’s hope that even the biggest grouches can get enamored in the spirit.  All this value to Christmas and how nothing can ever destroy it give great reason why it’s one of Dr. Seuss’ most celebrated stories.  Its critical and commercial success, continuing to go strong to this day, further sells its impact on literature and holiday staples.  Nine years later however, it would become even more impactful as an animated special.
Directed by legendary animator, Chuck Jones, the TV special of The Grinch is a very charming and entertaining take on the already endearing Christmas classic.  The time this special came out was when several of Dr. Seuss’ works were reimagined as short half-hour specials.  Unlike the current trend of movies which stretch things out with random subplots, these were straight forward adaptations of what was originally written.  Having Dr. Seuss himself involved certainly helps.  These points are key factors of why the special works so well with every meaningful statement the story makes delivered in an efficient and timely manner.  In the process, it shows how well a combination of Seuss’ storytelling and Chuck Jones’ talents as a director really is.  Because of the out-of-the ordinary designs of the Grinch and the Whos, animation is the only true medium to bring them to life.  As for Jones, one of his strengths as an animation director is making his characters easily identifiable with appealing expressions.  For that, whenever the Grinch is annoyed or devious, or when the Whos are happily merrymaking, you’re easily drawn into what happens.  Even the Grinch’s dog Max shows plenty of personality.  Without saying a word, his simple expressions make his apparent love for Christmas and torment of posing as the Grinch’s fake reindeer perfectly clear.  You can also feel how much torture the Grinch feels as he mournfully thinks of the noise of the Whos he has to put up with, as well as the joy as he goes through his thievery.  Even small interactions from the story like the Grinch’s encounter with Cindy Lou Who has a lot more emotion and appeal you can’t find in the original book. 
It’s not just expressions that show the justice Jones’ direction does for Seuss’ work.  Like in his many classic cartoons, every little movement is perfectly timed with the music.  In some cases, it works for tone shifts like going from the happy Christmassy environment of Whoville to the unpleasant one of the Grinch.  Timing also goes hand in hand with little sight gags to illustrate different points.  They include an x-ray showing how small the Grinch’s heart is, or little drums emphasizing him thinking of the noise he has to deal with.  The strength of timing comes into play during the Grinch’s actual plot by venturing down to Whoville to steal the Christmas amenities. 
Different phases of the sled ride down bring a varying sense of speed and tension.  It also brings solid laughs as Max, a small dog, struggles to pull the heavy sled and messes with the Grinch whenever he's forced into the back. 
Then in the houses, the animation of the Grinch slinking around to take everything in sight lines up perfectly with not just the music, but also the narration of every specific item.  It adds a sense of enjoyment of this whole plot that one can only feel in animation as opposed to static book illustrations.  In fact, it’s the best way to depict the idea of a mixed up version of Santa Claus as the Grinch goes to great lengths to steal gifts instead of give them.
Of course, the appeal of the special wouldn’t be fully realized without the music.  The background orchestrations do their part to set the mood of the different locations, and it goes well with the Chuck Jones’ style timing. 
However, what really gives this special’s music a true identity are the songs.  They’re upbeat and catchy staples that define moments and serve as a passage of time through certain actions.  Plus, with the lyrics written by Dr. Seuss, they’re a good way of showcasing his ever creative writing talents.  “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” is a particular highlight for the special.  It’s basically used to describe how bad the Grinch is as he sets out to deliberately ruin Christmas for everyone and the lengths he’s taking to do it.  However, it astounds for how much foul and bad things go together in a rhyme scheme and catchy melody.  It’s a perfect anthem for anyone who goes too far with their annoyance at Christmas.  Plus, it’s nicely placed to illustrate the time of the Grinch going through his plan whether he’s making his Santa suit or stealing everything.  The Whos’ songs are also worth a mention.  The opening song as they set up the decorations defines the commercialism that bothers the Grinch so much along with more creative rhyme schemes.  This one even contains the Dr. Seuss trademark of having the rhymes work with made-up names for decorations.  In typical Dr. Seuss-fashion, you’re so invested in the fun, there’s no need to ask what much of the lyrics really are. 
Then there’s the song they sing as they “welcome Christmas” while holding hands around the tree.  This song appears twice in the special, once when the Grinch thinks of his problems with Christmas and once when they’re merry even without decorations and gifts.  It’s a grand wholesome piece filled with Christmas spirit through all its defining virtues, and a good way to show that for all their commercializing, they know what it’s all about.  Well, at first it’s only a suggestion.  That said, the fact that they still sing it when left with nothing shows that they really do know what the holiday is all about.  This is why it’s very rewarding that hearing the song how the Grinch learns the meaning of Christmas.  An orchestral playing of that song in the last moments of the special as the Grinch willingly joins the Whos for a feast further places it as a holiday perennial.  I always believe that great music is a key component to truly successful animated works.  What we get for The Grinch is no different.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is an interesting story with an ingeniously relatable approach to Christmas and how society views it.  As an animated special, it lends itself to the medium very well with a respectable approach to Dr. Seuss’s vision, appealing expressions, and memorable songs.  Sometimes it drags with certain points, but the direction makes it all enjoyable nonetheless.  It’s a charming Christmas story with an endearing message and point of view, thus making it deserving of its iconic status.
Highly Recommended
That’s it for this ‘Toon Reviews Shorty. Be sure to stay tuned for more this holiday season. Until then:
Stay Animated Folks,
And Merry CHRISTMAS!

No comments:

Post a Comment