Eighteen years after Jim Carrey [1]'s How the Grinch Stole Christmas premiered, a new generation of kiddos has their very own version to obsess over: The Grinch starring Benedict Cumberbatch [2]. While it might be hard for parents who grew up watching the 1957 version to get excited for yet another rendition of the classic, this adorable holiday flick is impossible not to like.
At under 90 minutes, The Grinch is perfect for little kids who may struggle with sitting through a movie that runs any longer. And although your little ones won't give a hoot about the cast, parents can be reassured it's chock-full of stars. Benedict Cumberbatch delights as your favourite green curmudgeon [3], and Kenan Thompson — who voices a character named Bricklebaum — is absolutely hilarious.
Thinking about taking your little ones to see The Grinch when it hits theatres Nov. 9? Read through to see what you should expect!
1. The Grinch is much more empathetic this time around.
While we're still loyal to the Jim Carrey [4] version, it's hard to deny that the Grinch was downright verbally abusive to Max and Cindy Lou at times. Although smaller viewers still very much get the idea that the Grinch is a grumpy old loner in the latest movie, Benedict Cumberbatch is a lot less nasty.
In fact, there are a few instances — like when he tells Max he couldn't have asked for a better dog midway through — that are downright sweet. Overall, the toned-down language makes the Grinch a heck of a lot more likable from the get-go and a lot easier for kids to watch.
2. The movie showcases tons of different families.
Far and away one of the biggest differences between the new movie and its predecessors is there's actually diversity. As soon as the camera pans down to a shot of Whoville, viewers get a glimpse of all the town's residents, and thankfully not all of them all white. In one particular shot of the downtown, you can spy a few mixed-race families milling around in the city centre, and that's the type of attention to detail we love to see.
Another huge pro? Cindy Lou's mom, Donna Lou Who — who's voiced by Rashida Jones — is a single mom working several jobs and juggling three kids (including twins!) while working the night shift. How's that for relatable?
3. At one point, the Grinch implies that Santa isn't real.
Although this movie is clearly geared toward little kids, there is a particular moment when the Grinch implies that Santa isn't real. And while it definitely won't shatter your child's entire perception of the holiday, he mentions that because no one's ever seen Santa, he couldn't possibly be real.
4. The film teaches kids the importance of reaching out to others.
Without giving the Grinch's entire backstory away, viewers learn that he began to hate Christmas while living in an orphanage as a child. Throughout the storyline, children are reminded about the importance of reaching out to people who seem lonely, and that's a great real-world takeaway.
5. There's a brief moment of cartoon nudity. Seriously.
Believe it or not, there's a brief — but hilariously unexpected — moment of nudity toward the end of the movie. The mishap happens when Cindy Lou's BFF, a little redhead named Groopert, is trying to set a booby trap when his clothes go a-missing. Thankfully, you don't see anything too bad since he found a cookie to cover his private parts with!
6. It reminds children about the real meaning of Christmas.
True to form, The Grinch is the reminder that all kiddos need when it comes to what the holidays are really about. While everyone loves opening presents under the tree on Christmas morning, spending time with the people you love and doing kind things for others is what we always remember the most. Seriously, who doesn't get choked up over the Grinch finally sharing Christmas dinner with his newfound friends?