Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD

If you haven’t seen the movie, turn back now!

       With Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular Grinch, Illumination’s The Grinch is a 2018 reiteration of the 1966 cartoon. As is a common theme with the animation company Illumination, their latest movie is a sample of comedy gold with a nice, heartwarming story.

        In this version of the story, the Grinch is an orphan, similar to the live-action version in which he was adopted as a baby. However, in this version, he never gets to celebrate Christmas with a family like the other kids, which caused him to hate the holiday with a passion.

         The film takes a similar course to that of the live-action film, but with a slight twist (this is where we get into spoiler territory). In this version, there is a family of four with a single mother, a little girl (Cindy-Lou Who), and two twin baby boys. The little girl in this version meets the Grinch when he wanders into town to buy food.  Unlike the live-action version, she doesn’t end up wanting to know more about the Grinch.  Instead, she wants to personally ask Santa to give her hardworking mother something special.  She wants nothing for herself.  The movie also goes into much more detail and puts much more emphasis on the Grinch’s preparations for his heist, with the ensuing antics spawning a fair deal of the movie’s comedic content.

Similar to other versions before this one, the Grinch is successful in his heist.  In this version, however, when he returns the things he stole, he gives a heartfelt apology and leaves the town with his proverbial tail between his legs. later, the little girl goes to the Grinch’s house in the mountains to invite him to the Christmas party at her home. The Grinch hesitates to attend the party but ultimately decides to go. Contrary to what he had thought, everyone already at the party is very happy to see him, giving him the honor of carving the roast beast. The movie ends at this point.

In my opinion, the new Grinch is perfect for the whole family.