STUDY TIPS all on Page 6!
CROSSWORD and COMIC STRIP on Page 9/10!
The SECRET LIFE SOCRATES of CANCELLED Mr Renshaw... on Page 8! On Page 4!
VOLUME 1: Christmas Edition! “STUPID. UGLY. OUT OF DATE.” — The Cynicism Of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” And Why We Enjoy It So Much — Vittoria Di Rienzo Since moving to London in 2016, I’ve meticulously upheld a pedantic tradition: every year, on the first weekend of December, I rewatch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”(2000). And this year is no different. Once again, as the festive lights are lit on Regents Street, I feel beckoned to watch this broad appeal family entertainment, with its garish colours and messy cinematography. And once again, I’ve had to grapple with the question of why on earth I’m so drawn to it. It's not a refined movie by any means: every aspect of the film is gaudy, in-your-face and designed to sell something — even the Grinch himself holds a cynical view of the Whos’ over-consumerism. And still, there is this inexplicable pull which draws us ever closer to planting ourselves on the sofa with a hot chocolate in hand and pressing play… At the heart of it, I think this comes from director Ron Howard’s use of irony and contrast, which gives the movie an absurd, hyperbolic tone whilst simultaneously allowing its true message of hope and Christmas joy to ring out louder than ever. In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”we see the world through the Grinch’s eyes: it even feels as though he’s directed the film himself, molding our view to align with his own. Everything the audience sees is through his lens of cynicism, dotted with sarcasm and self- deprecating commentary. We become so comfortably accustomed to his pessimistic view that the sheer optimism
of the Whos is rendered into something unnerving and, quite frankly, intolerable. This not only makes the film deeply comedic, but it also exposes the fundamental flaw of Whoville’s society: its superficiality. The Whos claim to be devoted to their community even as they actively cast out one of their own; their startling over-consumerism and self-absorption, much like their energy usage, surges to absurd heights at Christmas time; their cult-like obsession with the holiday leads them to spend the entire year preparing for the Whobilation and near-threaten people with exile if they do not attend it — the list goes on. Additionally, the use of vivid and contrasting combinations of colours/shapes in the world of the film (set, costumes, etc.)
are all designed to attract attention and contrast with the Grinch’s comparatively grey world-view further exacerbating our perception of the Who’s over-consumerism. I think that this is what truly makes the film so appealing. What the audience sees is made to align so closely with what the Grinch sees that everything seems that much more absurd; that much more exaggerated and that much more funny. Of course, there is also Jim Carrey’s amazing and dedicated performance as the Grinch: he perfectly balances the comedic, energetic side of his character and his sour cynicism with his deep seated resentment and trauma, making the final message all the more impactful. His performance allows the movie’s interplay between psychological perspective and comedic allure to shine.
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The more poignant moments of the film, such as the Grinch’s evident childhood trauma and Cindy-Lou Who’s generous, naive and loving spirit, save the movie from becoming a one-dimensional parody. These elements instead bring out its final message of redemption and unity. In the end, the pessimism of the Grinch is undermined by the true spirit of Christmas. The gaudy and glaring personality of this film spins its magic, shining the spotlight on the hopeful ending and making it a truly cathartic movie at heart. Every time I watch it, as I’m sure many people would agree, I get this strange feeling of nostalgia for the world of Whoville despite never having lived in it myself. And as the credits roll, the final line always echoes in my mind: Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.
Pippin’s COMIC STRIP