MovieGuide

The Grinch is back! Plus, Frame of Mind Short Film competition

Dir: Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones Cert G 90M

It was never going to be easy introducing a new adaptation of the classic tale, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, to a modern audience. After all, how do you follow the remarkable live-action version from 2000, in which Jim Carrey gave a performance for the ages? Or the brilliant Chuck Jones animation from 1966, featuring the voice of Boris Karloff? The team behind the Minions have tried, by modernising elements of the classic Dr Seuss yarn (notably the soundtrack and a voiceover by Pharrell Williams) and cast the always-brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch in the voice lead. While the resulting film is uneven (the casting of Cumberbatch is diluted by the fact that he’s using an American accent), the story is still wonderful, the message remains on point and there’s some classic scene-stealing on show from Max the Dog and Fred the Reindeer. Listen out for Hollywood legend, Angela Lansbury, as the Mayor of Whoville.