The Grinch

"For more than six decades, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has ranked among Dr Seuss’ most famous creations. Brought to life with the author’s lively illustrations and penchant for rhymes, the grouchy titular character despises all things Christmas – the gifts, the fuss, the people fussing – until, after robbing the inhabitants of Whoville of everything related to the occasion, he realises that there’s more to it than decorations, trees, stockings, feasts and presents. The curmudgeon sees the kindness and joy in others, and starts feeling it himself. As well espousing the true meaning of the season, the illustrated parable champions simply being good to one another. ’Tis the right time for it, and all that."

"Dr. Seuss’s Christmas classic gets the CGI treatment from Illumination, the studio behind Despicable Me and its cranky villain Gru, who learns to be a nice guy, much like Charles Dickens’ Scrooge. It’s a tried and trusted festive formula but, as with many beloved children’s picture books, the source material’s too short to make a big movie from, and too well-known to ignore. The good news is, as with The Lorax, the producers stick to Seuss’ style, expanding on his surreal illustrations, wholesome morals and rhyming lines."

"Cumberbatch, in his droll and tasteful way, respects the grinchiness of the Grinch: that he's a force of mischievous mayhem who represents something in all of us - the potential to be bad when unhappiness takes over."

"The film is mainly a series of slapstick episodes, not always neatly hung together, and with barely any memorable side characters. Even the Grinch himself fails to make a massive impact at times."

"While ostensibly explaining how the Grinch got so Grinch-like, it also inclines the viewer to raise other questions. How did he score that mountaintop mansion? What's with the elaborately twisted pipe organ?"

"Takes the book's message that you can't buy Christmas and tops it up with noisy, wacky capering, squishing and flattening Seuss's universe into yet another bland frenetic kids' movie."

"For all its faults, there is a lot to like about The Grinch as diverting holiday season entertainment though."

""The Grinch" is beautiful to look at, and diverting enough. The material written to fill out the story is entertaining, but it doesn't resonate. You can't top what Seuss wrote."

"Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is a vibrant, amusing CG animated feature that gives the big mean, green guy a kinder, gentler makeover."

"Despite its story-telling ambition being two sizes too small (much like its hairy protagonist's heart), The Grinch is impossibly cute, visually rich and boasts enough festive fun to satisfy young viewers."