2000, 1 hr 40 min., Rated PG for some crude humor.�Dir: Ron Howard. Cast: Jim Carrey (The Grinch), Taylor Momsen (Cindy Lou-Who), Jeffrey Tambor (Mayor of Whoville), Christine Baranski (Martha May Who-vier), Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon (Betty Lou Who), Anthony Hopkins (Narrator), Clint Howard.

Maybe I was expecting too much. I've always been a shill for Jim Carrey, even in his Ace Ventura breakout, and for Ron Howard despite criticism that he's not deep enough. As a result, perhaps I was expecting more magic from The Grinch, and sadly ended up a bit disappointed. While I still recommend a viewing, it's not an enthusiastic one.

One thing that I liked is that, naturally, with a feature film needing more material and depth than a half-hour cartoon, we see more of what makes the Grinch a "What" rather than a Who. We learn that the bitchy green giant is a disenfranchised (heh, how long did you think it would take for me to infuse the 2000 election into everyday language?) Who citizen. Not like the others (being that he looks like a hairy avocado), the eight-year-old Grinch runs away and becomes a hermit, as an adult only sneaking into town with his dog Max occasionally to create chaos and make prank phone calls. Priding himself on his bad attitude, the Grinch purposefully keeps his heart small just as we try to keep our waistlines small.

Taylor Momsen makes her feature debut as Cindy Lou Who, who is frankly too cute for words. It is Cindy Lou who believes that the Grinch has the potential to change, and sets in motion many of the events in the film.

There were some funny, cuddly and memorable moments, but even Jim couldn't carry (pun intended) the entire film. The art direction was muddled, and had the look of a stage set more than a world of the Whos. It was so full of "things" that you couldn't tell what was going on some of the time.

I liked the costumes, although I am lost as to why the filmmakers felt the need to alter the faces of the actors in order to create a new breed of human, the Who, which basically entails bigger noses, protruding mouths and bigger feet.

Another element of the film that was unnecessary was having the Whos get caught up in over-commercialization not seen since the Atlanta Olympics. The Whos aren't the goody-goodys from the cartoon. These Whos are swingers, even engaging in Key parties (couple put their keys in a bowl, and couples switch partners for the night based on whose keys they pick out of the bowl). The Christmas season has become the battle over the best gifts, and the best lights on homes. They need a refresher course on authentic Christmas good will, and Cindy Lou is determined that reaching the Grinch can help.

If you're a fan of the original cartoon, go see the film. But you may not like it as much as someone who is coming in with fresh eyes. Or you might disagree with me completely, love it, and email me with disdainful comments about my pea-size brain. Either way, at least you're talking to me, so I won't turn into a hulking green menace living on a mountain.