I remember watching the original version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” that came out way back in 1966. Personally, I thought it was a pretty decent flick, definitely a good classic for the family. However, it lacks a connection between the Whos and the title character himself, the Grinch. So I was thankfully surprised by the 2000 film when I gave it a rewatch.

The movie’s director, Ron Howard, is known for famous classics such as “The DaVinci Code,” “Parenthood,” and “Splash,” just to name a few. Initially, he didn’t want to direct the film, but after reading the children’s novel written by Dr. Seuss, Howard wanted to explore a deeper character dynamic between the Grinch and other key characters such as Cindy Lou Who.

One of the aspects I really enjoyed about the film was the set design. I loved how each set piece was handcrafted to fit into the Dr. Seuss universe. There was a scene where Cindy Lou was writing a letter to Santa and her pencil was crooked and bent in a way that usually only shows up in animation. Another notable instance is the Who’s outfits. For the costumes, the Whos wore plates with gingerbread cookies and balanced bowls of eggnog on their heads–a concept I really enjoyed since it felt more authentic and creative rather than making every CGI. Of course, CGI was still in its infancy back then, so it was hardly used for the film. CGI was featured only in scenes where they featured Max, the Grinch’s dog, performing specific tasks.

Speaking of how the movie holds up today, it does an amazing job at making the actors blend in seamlessly with the characters they are portraying to the point you forget they’re actors. I didn’t recognize Jim Carrey the first time I saw this film. Which was honestly a pro because not many films can pull off this feat where the actor plays their character so well, they become the character they’re playing.

But there are some cons. Since this film is more aimed at a younger demographic, it had one instance of potty humor that I really didn’t like. Also, at times, it felt a little too zany and over the top when Jim Carrey was on screen. However, I think that’s Jim Carrey’s style, and I still thought his portrayal of the Grinch was entertaining.

Probably, the strongest scenes in the film for me were when the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who interacted with each other in his cave on Mount Crumpit. The contrast between the Grinch’s wacky, unpredictable personality with Cindy Lou Who’s curious, child-like naivety in her attempt to discover the true meaning of Christmas is wholesome to watch.

Lastly, I liked how the film was shot. In some scenes, the camera shifts rapidly from one camera shot to another. It gave the film more character and had a distinct feel to it that other films at the time were lacking. My favorite scene in the film was when the Grinch was trying to escape Whoville. As the Whos were all around the place trying their best to hide from the Grinch, he used one of the smaller Whos’ cars as a getaway. He ends up crashing into a fire hydrant, causing it to explode. which was pretty comical to watch since it was shot in a way that it looked like a “Hollywood” explosion. Considering the technology that was available back then, the effects of the explosion were on par with the high-quality effects used for the movie.

Overall, this remake surpasses the original in every way. With the avid storytelling, the creative costume and prop design, layered characters and perfect casting, I found myself reliving my nostalgia for Christmas flicks. This film is definitely a must-watch for dedicated Christmas moviegoers.