JonnyDR75

The only redeeming feature of this tv special is the set design. It looks very true to the Dr. Seuss storybooks, so it's quite pleasing to look at. As for the bad, let's start with the music and lyrics. This is not good. The songs have terrible melodies, and the lyrics are amateurish. The script also meanders and feels like nothing but filler with barely even a plot. The strangest thing here, however, is the Grinch himself. Anyone who has seen this musical on stage either on tour or at a regional theatre will tell you that they came up with a new makeup design for the main character for this tv adaptation. In the stage musical, the Grinch looks much more grotesque and scary, just like the storybook character. In this version, they made "sexy Grinch," which seems to either be in service of the ego of the actor, or to soften the character's facial features for younger audiences. Whatever the case, it doesn't work, and Morrison is miscast in the role. This is a transformative role that requires a skilled character actor, and Morrison just doesn't have the skill set for it. It's kind of like watching a 25 year old actor with a bad wig and bad old age makeup play Scrooge in a community theatre production of A Christmas Carol. It's just so bad, you can't even have fun hate watching it.

This is a beautifully shot film with solid performances from Sarah Paulson and the supporting cast. The main issue is that the arc of the story is not smoothly formed, so what starts off as an intriguing slow burn takes some quick turns that seem to come out of nowhere and the entire movie falls apart. The suspense and thrills are minimum here, so it is more of a drama than anything that could approach the horror or thriller genre. I suspect Paulson took this role because it seemed like a good opportunity to exercise her acting chops, but without a well crafted character arc, her performance ends up feeling real in each scene but unsatisfying as a whole.