Right out of the gate, let me make something perfectly clear. I'm a big fan of Ron Howard and I catch a lot of crap from my friends because of it. They think that the majority of his films are pretentious and sappy. I think that most of Howard's films are quite moving, and his style is very reminiscent of Steven Spielberg. With films like Cocoon, Parenthood, and Apollo 13, this guy has done a lot to put the Happy Days/ Andy Griffith image behind him.

Adapting material like The Grinch, was probably no easy task. Unfortunately, it is the screenplay where this film ultimately fails. What there is of a screenplay, anyway. We're all pretty familiar with the story. There is this greenie meanie who lives high in the mountains on the edge of cheery Whoville. It seems that he can't stomach the Christmas season, so he attempts to thwart the holiday from coming.

What Ron Howard and his team of writers have attempted to do, is create a history. Why is the Grinch the way he is? This is where the film falls into the realm of conventional storytelling. It could be argued that Howard is going for simplicity, but in the end, most of this film lacks spark and that endearing Christmas feeling your supposed to get while watching this film. Much of the picture is surprisingly dull.

Jim Carrey is actually a big part of the problem. This guy has proven to be a talented force in Hollywood and he should receive kudos for the conditions for which he's working under in this film. The fact is, this never really feels like the Grinch. It feels like Jim Carrey doing the Grinch! Carrey's Grinch is nothing but a hybrid of his past characters. Some engaging (The Mask), and some downright annoying (Ace Ventura). The bottom line is, Carrey can't seem to embody the spirit of the Grinch that we know from the beloved perennial classic.

Carrey's Grinch is a cartoon character that snaps off rapid fire dialogue and bounces off the walls with unlimited, manic energy. I always thought of Seuss' Grinch as more subdued, more of a wizened old curmudgeon, and a hell of a lot meaner. This is disheartening given the fact that Carrey has developed into quite an actor as of late with terrific turns in Truman Show and Man on the Moon.

Where Howard really succeeds is with the look of the picture. The art direction in this film is astounding. You will be magically sent to a new world in form of Whoville. Watching this place is like being in Fantasyland or a Tim Burton film. Also, a major shout out to the breathtaking cinematography. And last but certainly not least, I have to mention Rick Baker's incredible make-up. Jim Carrey is completely unrecognizable as the Grinch. And although Carrey had it rough hidden behind all that latex and fur, Baker should be commended for some of his best work in years.

In the end, it seems that it's the liberties that Howard and his film makers have taken, that bog this picture down. The final act of the Grinch (the actual Seuss story) seems to be taken right out of the pages. But the rest of it is just Carrey running around like a mad man. Maybe Howard should have kept him in check. And although the film has a few memorable moments (there's a great homage to action film car explosions), this Grinch can't seem to maintain the level of energy and whimsy it needs to engage the audience.