There are some movies that can’t be touched, Christmas classics are definitely among them. The thought of a remake or an adaptation is simply blasphemy, a dishonor to the brilliance that is the original creation.
Spin them off into television shows, add music and dance numbers and call it a Broadway hit, but don’t touch the original work.
However, occasionally, someone comes along and proves that belief wrong. Back in 2000, humble pie was eaten over “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
I still stand by the timelessness of the 1966 T.V. special. Its animation and simple yet poignant story about a strange, green, crabby, furry loner with a small heart condition who learns the true meaning of Christmas from a strange mute child, and a dog (poor Max), less than convincingly disguised as a reindeer, cannot be touched.
The Who (or whatever he is) is both “cuddly as a cactus” and “charming as an eel.” How do you top that? Perhaps with the only Christmas song (I can think of) that contains comparisons to rotten fruit, dirty socks, and seasick reptiles.
Having said that, I have to concede that the 2000 (I’m hesitant to call it a remake) reimagination of the story does a wonderful job of magically expanding the world which the cartoon and Theodore Geisel created.
Cindy Lou Who can talk, the Grinch has a past and motivation, and in the end lessons are still learned, songs are still sung, and hearts are still healed and perhaps grown three sizes.
We may still not know the lyrics to that song they sing at the end, but the message (hidden between wonderfully, whimsical words) is clear, and a bit repetitive:
Welcome Christmas! Bring your cheer… Welcome all Who’s far and near…
Christmas Day will always be, just so long as we have we…
Welcome Christmas bring your light…
Welcome Christmas… Welcome Christmas…Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and in hand…
Welcome, welcome Christmas Day!
~Dr. Seuss
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…bi-daily smiles…
I just couldn’t decide:
