Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas premiered 23 years ago and now it is a holiday classic, watched by hundreds of people each year. Even when the movie was released, it fared exceptionally well, grossing about $345 million worldwide against a budget of $123 million.
While Carrey was praised and earned acclaim for his portrayal, critics were exceptionally brutal towards the movie. Although Carrey is among the top actors in Hollywood and was at the top of his career around that time, his talent wasn’t enough to save the movie from the wrath of the critics.
Jim Carrey’s Brilliant Talent Was Insufficient To Save The Grinch Movie From The Critics
When How the Grinch Stole Christmas was released, it was a surprising hit among the audience and since then has become a Christmas classic. Even now Jim Carrey‘s brilliant performance and comedic talent in the movie are enjoyed by countless fans all over the world and is considered one of the best live adaptations of Dr. Seuss.
However, for critics, the movie seems to be the worst one ever made, with it currently having only 49% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46% on Metacritic. The movie was criticized on several fronts, with the movie moving away from Dr. Seuss’s original style finding the most haters.
Despite fans loving Carrey’s comedic element, critics felt that his ‘excessive’ comedic style was unnecessary and was essentially trying to keep the movie afloat which was so largely devoid of the original source material. Some critics even felt that it was Carrey’s acting that overshadowed the larger themes of love, redemption, and kindness, devaluing the original tale.
Furthermore, many also felt that instead of showcasing the Dr. Seuss tale on-screen and celebrating its natural appeal, the makers placed Carrey as the center of attention, using his popularity and talent to make the movie appealing, which they considered was appealing enough had they kept it true to the source material.
Also Read: Jim Carrey Not Returning for Grinch Sequel & 1 The Office Star is His Perfect Replacement
Despite Critical Reviews, The Movie Is A Fan-Favorite
Upon the release of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it was pretty obvious the movie was an immense hit, quickly topping charts across the world. Even the critically negative reviews were unable to drag it down. While the critics called out Jim Carrey and his acting as one of the main reasons why the movie was so bad, it was precisely his presence and acting that helped make the movie as famous as it is now.
A popular holiday classic, it was the energetic performance of Carrey, his character arc, the amazing visuals, and the nostalgic narrative elements that attracted viewers the most. While the critical reviews remain, they have failed to affect the movie’s timeless enduring popularity, proving that it is the audience’s perceptions that always rule the box office.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas can be rented on YouTube.
