Jim Carrey spent three hours dressing in yak fur for The Grinch in the creation of a Christmas Fable. Being green was challenging. Ask Kermit the Frog, please. Or even better, consult Jim Carrey. Because a $20 million movie actor who had to put up with a 24-month shoot schedule and four-hour make-up sessions to bring one of Dr. Seuss’s most well-known creations to life is in much worse shape than a Muppet.
If you’ve never heard of The Grinch, that will change thanks to director Ron Howard and Jim Carrey, who is fantastic despite being completely disguised in fur and makeup.
The Grinch
Based on the children’s fictional book, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” which was first published in 1957, centers on grumpy green guts for whom goodwill toward men and peace on earth are just things that happen to other people. When he decides to destroy the holidays for the Christmas-loving citizens of Whoville, he goes a little too far in his hatred of the holiday season.
Naturally, Howard’s film goes into more detail, portraying The Grinch as a verdant ball of self-loathing and revealing the true motivations behind his attitude toward Christmas. There’s a charming kid named Cindy-Lou Who (played by Taylor Momsen), a wise dog named Max, some awful songs, and some of the year’s most stunning make-up and visual effects. In the genuine spirit of movies like Gremlins (1984) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Howard also serves as a timely reminder that the holiday season is never more accurately portrayed than when it is completely ruined.
Jim Carrey starred in the 2000s film, ” How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is the 2000 Christmas fantasy comedy film, often known as Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas or simply The Grinch; it was directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer from a screenplay by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman. It is based on the same-titled children’s book by Dr. Seuss, published in 1957. It was the second adaptation of the book, following the animated TV special of the same name from 1966, and the first Dr. Seuss novel to make into a full-length feature film (and the first of only two live-action Dr. Seuss films, followed by The Cat in the Hat in 2003).
The 1966 animated TV special with the same name served as the book’s first adaptation. It is narrated by Anthony Hopkins and features Jim Carrey as the title character, along with supporting performances from Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon.
Still one of my favorite moments in Jim Carrey’s The Grinch. pic.twitter.com/iHDlwRQRGs
— Helmet and Webs (Parody) (@HelmetBoi5) December 23, 2022
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, produced by Imagine Entertainment, was made available to American audiences by Universal Pictures on November 17, 2000. Critics gave it mixed reviews, praising Jim Carrey’s performance but criticizing its darker subject, a few spooky scenes, and a significant departure from the original. With a $345 million global total and four weeks as the number one movie in the US, it was the sixth-highest-grossing movie of 2000. At the time, it also overtook Home Alone (1990) as the second-highest-grossing holiday movie ever, although both films were overtaken in 2018 by the third movie adaptation of the book.
Portraying the character in The Grinch is really Challenging
Since the set designers and dressers had to create Dr. Seuss’ universe while the scriptwriters were still shaping the tale, working on the production itself was, in the director’s words, “extremely atypical.” In addition, makeup artist Rick Baker was brought on board early to perform his cosmetic magic on Carrey’s flexible features and those of the Whos, whom Howard praises as a crucial component of the film. But the actor soon started to feel the strain of arriving at the studio at 6:30 a.m. every morning, spending four hours in the makeup chair, and then putting on the 10 lb bodysuit before any footage was filmed.
According to Jim Carrey, “it was all just a challenge, and at some time it got past that, and hopefully, from everything that everyone is telling me, it got to the point where you saw the Grinch’s soul. You want to achieve it, and that’s all you project. According to Howard, the daily wear of Carrey’s yellow contact lenses was the hardest part. Howard notes that while Jim can’t wear contacts, he had to since he knew it was appropriate for the character, even though he knows some people can. However, there were times when we constantly had an optometrist on hand with a high magnifying glass because he would frequently have debris in his eyes.
At some point, Carrey’s situation got so bad that Howard feared “he wouldn’t be able to make it through the movie.” Here comes producer Brian Grazer, who arranged for Carrey to train with a Navy SEAL who specializes in instructing paramilitaries on handling extreme suffering. Carrey returned a different man after spending a weekend perfecting the methods and understanding the fundamentals of pain management. “The first several weeks were difficult,” Carrey confesses, “but I overcame it after learning about pain deferral and other related concepts. To distract from your discomfort, pinch your arm or do something similar. What people can adjust to is remarkable.”
The Grinch is the perfect movie for the Christmas season
The Grinch is portrayed as a cynical, green, pot-bellied, furry, pear-shaped creature with a cat-like visage. He is usually shown in full-color renditions as yellow-green. He has been living alone on a cliff overlooking the town of Whoville for the past 53 years.
The Grinch is cynical, bad-tempered, and misanthropic in contrast to the happy Whos. The Whos agree that the reason for this is that he was born with a heart that was “two sizes too small,” according to them. He is always hateful, but during the holiday season, he is ruthless, mentioning in particular how disturbing the numerous noises of the season are to him, including the singing of Christmas songs. But the movie is no doubt perfect for enjoying with family during Christmas.
Put Halloween behind you and focus on December 25. Everything is becoming Grinch for Christmas, from the apparent dolls to everyone’s favorite holiday treat—Oreo cookies. The filling on these cookies is green rather than the more traditional white. That seems somewhat ironic, given that the movie’s entire plot revolves around a character who opposes the commercialization of the holiday.
Howard ensures that none of them have missed the irony over the 24 months they have worked on it. “But, you know, there was nothing like seeing Zorro on television as a kid while wearing my Zorro helmet, cape, and mask. I believe it broadens the experience for children, and the things I own seem enjoyable, delightful, and cherry.”
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