🎬 How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Review of the DVD Edition
How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD Grinchmas Edition with original artwork
My Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ 4.8 / 5
When Ron Howard took on Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, few imagined that this bright, strange, and unexpectedly moving adaptation would become a modern holiday mainstay. Jim Carrey’s wild physicality and layered emotion anchor the film, while Howard’s craftsmanship brings Whoville to shimmering life. This DVD edition preserves the full visual spectacle and warmth that first delighted audiences in 2000, when practical effects still outweighed digital trickery. In truth, it remains one of the few big-budget comedies of its era to balance slapstick, satire, and sincerity with such care.
About How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Synopsis:
High above Whoville, the Grinch lives alone, nursing a lifetime of resentment toward the cheerful townsfolk below. When Christmas once again floods the valley with noise and glitter, he plots to steal the entire holiday until young Cindy Lou Who intervenes with compassion and curiosity that challenge his bitterness. Her faith in kindness, even toward a recluse, transforms both him and the community. What follows is a heart-tugging journey through snow, satire, and redemption that captures the essence of Dr. Seuss’s timeless message.
Main Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Clint Howard
Grinchmas Edition DVD Jim Carrey delivers an unforgettable transformation as the Grinch
🎞️ Performance & Audio/Visual Presentation
Jim Carrey dominates How the Grinch Stole Christmas from the first frame, melding manic humor with flashes of pathos. Under heavy prosthetics, he manages to convey every flicker of emotion, turning a fabled villain into a fully human misfit. Taylor Momsen’s Cindy Lou Who provides the film’s heart, grounding the fantasy with quiet conviction.
Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, and Clint Howard lend delightful absurdity to the Whoville ensemble, creating a town both satirical and strangely believable. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix enhances the laughter and the booming score, while the DVD transfer maintains sharp detail in Rick Baker’s Oscar-winning makeup. The color palette emerald, candy-red, and snow-white remains vibrant without oversaturation. This edition captures the tactile artistry of sets and costumes that digital formats often flatten.
💡 Cinematography, Style & Direction
Ron Howard approaches How the Grinch Stole Christmas as both spectacle and character study. Cinematographer Don Peterman’s lens glides through intricate sets that feel simultaneously whimsical and claustrophobic, reflecting the Grinch’s isolation. The camera lingers on Carrey’s rubber-faced expressions while keeping pace with the manic choreography of Whoville. Visually, the film is a snow-globe come to life steam rising from chimneys, glistening ornaments, and the faint tint of melancholy beneath the gloss. Howard’s direction emphasizes empathy without dulling Seuss’s satirical edge, and the practical lighting adds warmth rarely matched in later digital remakes.
🔍 What Worked & What Didn’t
✅ Jim Carrey’s extraordinary physical and emotional performance
✅ Lavish production design that faithfully evokes Dr. Seuss’s illustrations
❌ Some sequences linger a bit too long on Whoville antics
❌ A few jokes feel dated two decades later
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Official DVD Preview
Trailer
✅ Includes full feature film with Dolby 5.1 audio ✅ Bonus features: Spotlight on Location, Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, Who School, Makeup Design, Faith Hill Music Video ✅ Perfect for families and holiday collectors
Family enjoying a cozy movie night on the couch with popcorn
📀 Bonus Features & Edition Highlights
This How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD edition overflows with behind-the-scenes material that reveals how the film’s fantastical look was achieved. “Who School” explains the movement training for actors, while “Seussian Set Decoration” dives into the curved architecture of Whoville. Rick Baker’s makeup segments show why he won the Academy Award for his work, and Faith Hill’s music video adds a touch of holiday pop nostalgia. Menus are animated with snow transitions and grinning portraits of the Grinch. The commentary by Ron Howard is warm and technical, tracing the logistical challenges of filming a comedian beneath hours of latex.
🎯 Buyers’ Guide: Who Should Get It
Families, collectors, and fans of Jim Carrey should own this How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD Review. It stands as one of the most elaborate live-action adaptations of a children’s story ever filmed. Parents will appreciate its gentle message of kindness, while younger viewers will delight in its visual chaos. Collectors gain value from the extensive bonus content and Howard’s commentary, which offers rare insight into early-2000s filmmaking. Whether watched every December or saved for nostalgic viewings, it delivers both heart and holiday cheer.
🕰️ Why It Still Matters
Two decades later, How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD continues to define the holiday movie season for a generation raised on Carrey’s blend of madcap energy and earnestness. Its themes of redemption and belonging remain universal, and its production values recall a time when practical sets and handcrafted props were commonplace. Even as newer animated versions emerge, this film retains a distinct humanity chaotic, funny, and genuinely warm. It reminds viewers that even the coldest heart can find joy through connection and forgiveness.
Even as streaming dominates, discs like this remind movie fans what ownership feels like bonus content, artwork, and the satisfaction of a permanent copy. It’s a connection that algorithms can’t replace.
Final Verdict: A lavish and loving adaptation that earns its place among modern holiday classics this How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD is as heart-expanding as its message.
Filming How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD required three hours of daily makeup for Jim Carrey, a process he once compared to “being buried alive.” Rick Baker’s team developed a custom ventilated latex system to keep Carrey cool under studio lights. Ron Howard directed in a Grinch suit for solidarity on difficult days, and sets for Whoville filled two soundstages with nearly a thousand props built by hand. The film was shot mostly on 35 mm stock to capture the texture of Seuss’s illustrations. Carrey’s improvised moments kept crew and co-stars laughing through long hours on set.
💿 Collector’s Notes
The DVD packaging features snow-white embossing and Carrey’s green silhouette against a red backdrop. The disc menu plays Danny Elfman’s score while ornaments drift across the screen. An insert lists bonus features in bright Seussian lettering, and chapter selections include still frames from key scenes. Collectors will value the faithful poster art and original Universal Studios branding before the logo update. It’s a package that retains the movie’s spirit fun, chaotic, and beautifully crafted.
📦 Preservation & Collectors’ Care
Preservation Tip: Keep your disc in a cool, dry place and handle it only by the edges. Avoid paper sleeves that can scratch the surface; the original case remains ideal for storage.
Store the How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD in its original packaging to preserve the vivid artwork and disc quality. Lightly wipe with a microfiber cloth when needed. Collectors using archival catalogs can ensure this holiday staple remains a functional keepsake for generations.
💬 “Jim Carrey is a masterclass in makeup and madness.” – Verified Viewer
💬 “Still the definitive live-action holiday movie of its era.” – Classic Collector
💬 “Every December I return to this film for its chaotic joy.” – Longtime Fan
ML Lamp is the owner of Kilroy Was Here. After his 20 years of working in Las Vegas in the entertainment promotions field, Mr. Lamp retired in 2002 from his job to pursue his passion for collectibles. Now as a guest speaker and author he’s living the dream, and sharing his warmth with You.
