Now on Bluray and DVD is DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH

Jeri Jacquin

This week on Bluray/DVD and Digital from directors Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier, Illumination and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the one we know as THE GRINCH.

In Who-ville it is that time of year as the Who-ville-ians prepare themselves for their favorite holiday of Christmas. Of course there is always one who isn't quite so thrilled about the excitement and that's The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch). Living atop Mount Crumpit with his dog Max, Grinch gets a little grumpier when he realizes that he has to make a grocery stop in Who-ville which is the last thing he wants to do. 

Also in Who-ville is Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely), a very sweet six-year-old who is very aware that her mother is overworked. Taking care of twin boys Buster and Bean, Mom Donna (Rashida Jones) keeps a happy face for her family but Cindy reaches out to Santa for a little help. The Grinch and Cindy meet and the outcomes is that Cindy Lou decides to go to the North Pole and ask Santa straight out for help. The problem is that the traveling she would have to do to make that happen means that Cindy Lou has to go to plan B - trap Santa!

The Grinch has his own idea for messing with Who-ville and the holidays he hates so much. On Christmas Eve with the help of Max, he decides to be Santa Claus  and take  every little gizmo and gadget  from the towns people. While heisting the Who's house, he meets Cindy Lou again as she explains that she wants nothing for herself, only her mother and there is a crack in the Grinch's nasty ole heart.

That doesn't stop him from stealing everything in Who-ville and back up to Mount Crumpit. What he doesn't expect is that all the people of Who-ville see past the trappings of Christmas and celebrate the holiday with love in their hearts. Well, the Grinch can't get away from the feelings that snowball to the point of doing the right thing and becoming part of Who-ville the way it always should have been.

The Grinch toasts, "To kindness and love, the things we need the most"!

Cumberbatch as The Grinch is funny and charming in his grumpy way but that is what is expected of this iconic character. It is difficult to carry on the tradition of the Dr. Seuss' from it's 1966 Boris Karloff voice narration that I grew up with to the 2000 Jim Carrey hilarious version that my daughter grew up with but Cumberbatch has a little help from Illumination to make his version come to life.

Seely as Cindy Lou Who is a very sweet girl who sees the day to day struggles of her mother and although tries to help the best she can, she feels it might not be enough. That's a child with an amazing heart that should all be blessed to know.

Jones as Donna is a Mom who is trying to be everything to everyone and does so with the Who-ville positive attitude - even if it is exhausting. I found her creative, skillful and someone I'd like to have around my kitchen at breakfast time.

Lansbury as the Mayor is a voice I can say that I always love to hear and am thrilled that she is The part of the Grinch memorable universe.

Other cast include: Kenan Thompson as Bricklebaum, Tristan O'Hare as Groopert, Ramone Hamilton as Axle, Sam Lavagnino as Ozzy, Scarlett Estevez as Izzy and Pharrell Williams as the Narrator and the glorious Ms. Angela Lansbury as Mayor McGerkle.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

The Bluray of THE GRINCH includes the Bonus Features of 3 Mini-Movies, The Making of the Mini-Movies, From Green to Screen, Who's Who in Who-ville, My Earliest Grinch Memories, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" Lyric Video, Songs from His Little Heart, Grinchy Gadgets, Anyone Who Can Draw: The Grinch, Max, Fred, Cindy Lou's Yule Log and so much more!

The Digital Movie included in this pack has Movies Anywhere and with the Movies Anywhere App you can download and stream from any device which means you can go to Who-ville from almost anywhere.

THE GRINCH is a film that will be part of holiday viewing for years to come. The animation is green and vivid which is what we'd expect of the world created by Dr. Seuss and it adds to the fun of the film.

What is also in this film is the importance of family and helping one another because if you do that, it is so easy to reach out that feeling to a Grinch we all might know. Let's face it, no one wants to be left out of the holiday fun and watch it from afar. THE GRINCH invites us to be caring, giving, loving and full of holiday fun.

Now that's something we can all get behind all year long.

In the end - it's never too early to be annoyed by Christmas!