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This week's new movies had messages that Christian critics could applaud—Christmas doesn't come from a store, humans shouldn't play God, and honesty is necessary for intimacy—but in each case reviewers felt the movies didn't do much to back up the claims.

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Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas is already a certified hit, posting the highest opening ever for a non-sequel, with $55 million. However, the movie's huge merchandising blitz that helped propel such a debut seemed to strike reviewers as contrary to the book's moral that Christmas doesn't come from a store. "For some reason, this basic philosophy appears to be a bit disingenuous," says Michael Elliott of Crosswalk.com, "coming as it does from a multi-million dollar production which has spared little expense in the telling of what used to be a sweet and simple story." Critics also cringed at the fleshing out of the story in order to reach feature length, including flashback scenes and a tidy motivation for the Grinch to steal Christmas from the joyful Whos. "Why the Grinch is so grumpy?" asks Jeffrey Overstreet of Looking Closer. "Unrequited love, and people laughed at his ugliness. Yep. It's as boring, as unimaginative, and as plain as an After-School Special." The Movie Reporter, Phil Boatwright, complains that the originally sweet and loving Whos are transformed into happily materialistic and morally loose people who even indulge in a key-party. "I suppose the outlandishness of seeing guileless Whoville dwellers participating in such a hedonistic sexual game may be humorous, but it is also a vulgar and cheap gag," Boatwright says. At Beliefnet, Jonathan V. Last finds it repulsive that little Cindy Lou Who is the one who eventually teaches both the Grinch and the Whos what Christmas is all about. "Children's stories that make a fetish of the moral purity of children are headed for trouble of the worst kind," writes Last. "Ron Howard's movie panders to the moral vanity of children and the adults who idolize them." However, there were many critics who enthusiastically recommended the film, despite the breaks from tradition. "No doubt, this Grinch is a family winner and will become a classic in its own right," writes Paul Bicking of Preview. Movieguide calls it "one of the most entertaining family fantasies to come along in quite a while." Jim Carrey earns high praise from most every critic for his turn as the Grinch; many said he singlehandedly makes the movie watchable. "From his hairy green suit and yellow eyes, to his penchant for chewing glass and throwing tantrums, Carrey's who-mazing Grinch steals the show!" says Crosswalk.com's Holly McClure. "Scenes showcasing Carrey's sarcastic wit and his uncanny creativity with pratfalls and physical humor all allow Carrey to do what he does best—improvise!" Focus on the Family's Bob Smithouser praises Seuss' widow, Audrey Geisel, for opposing much of the bathroom humor that was in the screenwriters' first draft, saying "this live-action Grinch is better for her involvement. And as Jim Carrey pictures go, it's downright wholesome." Nevertheless, most Christian critics urged parents to talk about Christ's birth with their kids because this movie presents only "a secularized definition of the true meaning of Christmas" (U.S. Catholic Conference).

Another kid-targeted flick, Rugrats In Paris, fared better with Christian critics, who had more mild quibbles with the content. "As the Rugrats' travels take them from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame and everywhere in between," writes Movie Reporter Phil Boatwright, "the world's favorite babies learn new lessons about courage, loyalty, trust and above all, true love. With a clever and poignant story, Rugrats In Paris is colorful and bouncy for little ones, with just enough tributes to other films and sight gags to keep parents from groaning too often." Crosswalk.com's Holly McClure agrees that it's "family entertainment at its best! Funny antics, clever dialogue and cute kids combined with an interesting setting make this adventure one that parents will enjoy along with the kids." The U.S. Catholic Conference is also complimentary, saying "the bright, lively animation and simple story peppered with clever quips create an engaging film." However, Focus on the Family's Jesse Florea says the movie offers nothing but bad role models for kids: "If parents are wanting more of what they see on the Rugrats TV show (plenty of potty humor, disrespectful language and zero discipline), then this movie lives up to expectations. Never is a child scolded for making a mess or reprimanded for being rude." Movieguide straddled the two views, calling it "a fun movie emphasizing morals," but warning that the comic misbehavior "may hinder any parental efforts to try to deter or minimize these things, especially among small children."

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November (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44