We all know that confidential funds can be stolen, but do you know how Christmas can be stolen? ‘Tis the season to spread love, joy, and hope — but watch out for the Grinch!

Not to be confused with the book “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (1957) written by Dr. Seuss, nor the animated and live-action movies of the same name from 1966 and 2000, The Grinch is an animated movie released in 2018 by Illumination.

The movie follows the story of a handsome furry green creature named the Grinch who hated Christmas and the people of Whoville who loved Christmas as much as the Grinch hated it. His intense resentment for the holiday led him to sequester into a cave with no company but his dog, Max. No one knew exactly why he loathed it; one could argue that perhaps he was appalled by the widely accepted encouragement of consumerism during the holiday or maybe he is a sadist who finds the joy of other people as a form of torture, but it is said that his heart may just have been two sizes too small. The Grinch, unable to bear the joyous Christmas celebration of Whoville any longer, devised a plan to destroy the holiday that everyone was excitedly preparing for — a scheme to steal Christmas from the hands of the people who eagerly looked forward to it. Unbeknownst to him, a sweet little girl named Cindy Lou Who will soften his cold hard heart. He steals every present from Whoville, not leaving a single one behind. After all,without gifts, there would be no Christmas, right? Yet the people of Whoville continued to celebrate Christmas even without their beloved presents, singing a song that symbolized their love and care for one another. This simple act and the kindness of Cindy Lou made the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes bigger. Finally, the Grinch returns the gifts and apologizes for stealing Christmas. Despite his selfish act, the people of Whoville welcomed him with open arms. The movie finishes with a heartfelt scene of the Grinch and the people of Whoville sharing Christmas dinner.

The stunning animation brought the movie to life, thanks to the collaborative effort of the experienced animators from Illumination. The  joy of Christmas was captured by the vivid colors of every scene. The emotions of the characters were properly expressed by their facial expressions and body language, each meticulously animated, especially the Grinch’s iconic grin. The character design of the Grinch itself was given justice, exuding the same sense of evil seen in character designs from the previous movies and the book, albeit looking less creepy and more silly.

Filled with lively beats and jingling bells, the soundtrack perfectly fits the holiday theme of the movie. Personally, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Christmas Is” stood out amongst all the featured songs. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by none other than Tyler, the Creator creates a harmonious blend of the warm spirit of Christmas and the bleak cynicism of the Grinch, as the bright voices of kids contrast the lyrics describing the Grinch’s pessimistic behavior. The song paints a memorable impression of the Grinch to the audience, serving as a great attention-catcher introduction. On the other hand, “Christmas Is” by Run–DMC kicks off with jingle bells in the first few seconds, tricking you into expecting a typical Christmas song not until it is followed by rap beats and lyrics about the importance of the gift of giving during Christmas: “Don't be like The Grinch 'cause The Grinch is greedy!” Classic Christmas songs like “Deck The Halls” and “Jingle Bells” are also played in the movie.

Although this story has been told both through words on paper and moving images on screens. The story of the Grinch teaches us that the real holiday spirit is not the anticipation of receiving gift-wrapped material things. The meaning of Christmas has been overshadowed by corporations taking advantage of the holiday to propagate consumerism. Of course, there is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts, but the real holiday spirit is the love, joy, and hope that we share during the holiday season. This seemingly simple message is something that we often forget whenever Christmas is right around the corner; most of us are more eager to get our hands on a red envelope from their ninong or ninang than to spend what is deemed “the most wonderful time of the year” with friends and family, which is something I am also guilty of. 

Moreover, the movie teaches us that there are people who hide their loneliness and pain under a mask of pessimism, who only need a little love to open up their true selves. If a little girl like Cindy Lou Who can transform the heart of a villain like the Grinch, then even a simple act of kindness by someone like you and me can make someone’s day a little bit nicer or even change them for the better. 

Overall, The Grinch is a fun Christmas movie geared towards kids that imparts a sweet message. May all our hearts grow three sizes bigger. Happy holidays, Escolarians!