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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 4 years

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Psycho Analysis: The Grinch

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

What can be said about the Grinch that hasn’t already been said a million times by a million different people? The Grinch is easily one of the most iconic Christmas characters of all time, up there with the likes of Scrooge, and he even has a similar character arc in which he learns the true meaning of Christmas and becomes a better person. The original Chuck Jones animated short has gone down as one of the most beloved Christmas specials of all time as well as one of the best Dr. Seuss adaptations ever (if not THE best), and it gave the Grinch his iconic theme song which every other adaptation has seen fit to use.

The Jim Carrey live action take and the Illumination version which featured Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role both tried to bring a fresh take to the world’s most beloved classic Christmas curmudgeon, but did they succeed in making him entertaining and engaging as a villain is the real question?

Actor: In the original Chuck Jones short, none other than Frankenstein’s monster himself, Boris Karloff, portrayed the Grinch, but this is mostly due to the fact he was the narrator of the story and the Grinch is the only character who really speaks due to the tale being mostly shown from his POV. Still, let’s not pretend like Karloff isn’t the definitive voice here, especially considering his competition.

Carrey and Cumberbatch are both good actors, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think they really do the Grinch all too much justice. Carrey, bless his heart, at least comes fairly close, with his Grinch being in line with the original, but at the same time this is a comedic Carrey character coming off of his 90s run as a wacky comic actor. Carrey injects that manic Carrey energy into the performance, and while I think it’s a good performance, I don’t necessarily find it to be a good Grinch,

Cumberbatch faces a similar issue, not helped by his decision to use a weird American accent as opposed to his natural British one, leaving his Grinch sounding like a nasally dork. Again, he doesn’t do a terrible job by any means, but his performance certainly does nothing to convince you the Grinch is a mean, rotten soul.

Motivation/Goals: The Chuck Jones Grinch sticks to the original book to a fault; the Grinch is just a cranky jerk who hates Christmas for some inexplicable reason, and so decides to ruin it for everyone out of petty spite. Yes, it lacks any sort of depth, but the Grinch is a character from a children’s book and he just puts so much darn effort into his plan that it’s really easy to forget he’s just doing this because he is just a miserable bastard.

The two other attempts at the Grinch have gone a long way to giving him some sort of tragic backstory explaining his hatred for Christmas. And… I actually really like that. Yes, yes, villains can just do villainous things because they’re jerks, but I do appreciate the other adaptations attempting to do something interesting with the character and make him a bit more engaging in a feature-length product. In the Jim Carrey film, the Grinch becomes bitter and evil due to a childhood of constant bullying, while the Benedict Cumberbatch Grinch was a lonely orphan who never got to celebrate Christmas. While obviously it’s up to the viewer to decide whether or not these backstories add any sort of interesting element to the Grinch’s hatred of Chrtistmas, it’s hard to deny that it makes a bit more sense than the Grinch suddenly and randomly deciding after half a century that this Christmas was going to be the last ever.

Personality: While this section of Psycho Analysis is going to be semi-retired, the three Grinches are actually a perfect example of where examining the personalities of the characters can actually show a lot about the overall quality. Obviously, the original Grinch is exactly what a Grinch should be, at least in my eyes: a bitter, miserable curmudgeon who takes great joy in bringing misery to others with his selfish, senseless acts of holiday thievery. He’s a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

The Carrey Grinch does still have these elements, but it’s a bit outshone by Carrey’s hammy performance. His Grinch is about as wild as Ace Ventura or the Riddler, and while hammy villains are always fun – and there’s no denying the Grinch is – it makes it a lot easier to see him eventually turning to the light side, especially since he’s actually shown to have some redeeming qualities.

These issues are continued into Cumberbatch’s Grinch, and in fact here the problems peak. Cumberbatch’s Grinch from the start comes off as more as mildly irritated jerk, yet one who really doesn’t seem evil at all, and as the story continues he seems far more like a depressed, unhappy man with undiagnosed mental illness who is suffering due to childhood trauma. You don’t want to say this guy has termites in his smile or that he’s slippery as an eel or that you wouldn’t touch him with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole; you just want to give him a hug and tell him that things are going to get better. He just seems like he needs a friend, not a total life-changing epiphany.

Final Fate: We all know how it goes; his heart grows three sizes and he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Each of the adaptations keeps this in, though obviously to diminishing returns as each successive adaptation has made the Grinch nicer from the get-go in some regard due to the tragic backstories and whatnot.

Best Scene: At least for the original, his best moment is, of course, the montage during “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” in which we get to see all of the slippery ways this green meanie is ruining the holidays. Of course, this is matched by the epic moment at the end where the Grinch gains super strength from his heart growing three sizes and lifts the sleigh of stolen goods, which is equally awesome whether it’s te animated one or Jim Carrey doing it.

Cumberbatch’s Grinch manages to have a different moment to call his best: after he has redeemed himself, he gets invited to dinner in Whoville, and the scene where he nervously goes to the house and makes small talk is just very sweet and endearing. It’s easily the best scene in the movie and shows that even watered down there’s still plenty of heart to be mined from this timeless tale.

Final Thoughts & Score: I think that the fact that the Grinch is constantly being reimagined is a sign at how impressive and enduring he is as a character, and he’s easily the greatest Christmas villain of all time (with apologies to Hans Gruber, Mr. Potter, Burgermeister Meisterburger, and Kirk Cameron). The original special is obviously the definitive portrayal of the character, to the point where the Grinch became a household name and got himself two more specials, one in which he once again terrorized Whoville (this time with a wagon filled with nightmarish hallucinations) and one where he faced off against the Cat in the Hat, the latter being especially notable for beating Zack Snyder to the punch at making “Crossover Versus Movie in Which One of the Title Characters Is Redeemed By Mentioning His Mother” by 34 years.

The original Grinch even effected himself; his iconic green, almost goblin-like appearance was a departure from the book, where he sort of resembled a more mischievous Who, and it has ended up sticking for the character ever since. Throw in that iconic villain song about how foul he is sang by Thurl Ravenscroft AKA Tony the Tiger, as well as the fact that “Grinch” is up there with “Scrooge” as shorthand for someone who hates Christmas, and it’s easy to justify letting the Chuck Jones take on the Grinch steal not only Christmas, but an 11/10.

Carrey’s take on the character is different, but not bad. I’m not going to say it’s good either, though; I still think Carrey hammed it up too much and just let loose his manic energy. And it’s really weird, because I have a soft spot for the film and I love the performance, and I think the insane energy of Carrey’s performance is what elevates the film and has helped it become a sort of holiday cult classic, but I think that it kind of misses the point of how the Grinch should be. It really boils down to the usual thing with these adaptations that try and add complexities to characters that just work better when they are simple: Jim Carrey’s Grinch is a great, fun character, but he just isn’t a great Grinch. Still, the makeup and costuming is so amazing that I’d feel like a Grinch myself if I stole too many points, so I think a 6/10 is a solid score for a performance that manages to be a bit above your average villain.

And then we get to Cumberbatch. I’m just going to say it: I barely consider his Grinch a villain. He’s just too nice and sad and cranky to really be evil. Sure he has wacky inventions, sure he is a bit passive aggressive to the Whos, but god this guy is just not mean enough. The fact he can just walk into town and interact with the townsfolk and they don’t even bat an eye says a lot about how watered down and toothless this take on the character is. Not helping is the safe, soft design Illumination gave him, as well as Cumberbatch’s weird American accent. Still, I don’t think this Grinch deserves worse than a 4/10 when it comes right down to it. In this case, it’s more that what’s interesting about him as a character saves him from sinking any lower than just being subpar as opposed to the problem with Carrey being that what made him interesting as a character made him less appealing as a Grinch. This guy does still try and steal Christmas, after all… It’s just that he’s so nice to begin with that you really aren’t too shocked when he does end up turning over a new leaf.

While it’s obvious the Grinch has had his ups and downs over the years, the fact he is such a legendary figure and an enduring cultural icon really says a lot for his staying power, as well as that sometimes a simple villain that lacks any complex motivation beyond “he’s a jerk” can really resonate with people. Maybe all of these other adaptations don’t quite measure up to the original animated special, but they don’t need to; it’s just interesting to see what different visions for the Grinch look like from different creators. Whether it’s good or bad, one thing is for sure: he’s a mean one, that Mr. Grinch, and we all love him for it.

You know what we don’t love him for, though? His dental hygiene.

Merry Christmas!

#Psycho Analysis #The Grinch #how the grinch stole christmas #Dr. Seuss #Chuck Jones #Boris Karloff #Jim Carrey #Benedict Cumberbatch

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brtprnce-blog · 5 years

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name: rune nils lovik nicknames: rune , nils , or even just lovik age: twenty five gender identity: cis male birthplace: stockholm , sweden sexuality: pansexual / panromantic pronouns: he / him occupation: business student & drug dealer housing: potentas sign: aries pinterest: board spotify: playlist

hey it’s your local demigirl trash demon ! not much to say about me except i go by nary , i’ve been burnt by tumblr rp so many times i’ve literally gone by so many monikers so if you think possibly you might know who i am then feel free to ask about it ! i’m twenty three years old , use she / they pronouns , and live in kentucky ( good luck finding me if ur a stalker lol ) which means i reside in the central timezone. i do work at a local department store type deal , but since the holidays are over it won’t be as time consuming for now and i have until tuesday of next week off thank frick. anyway now on to this new muse who was inspired by an old muse or two of mine leggoooooo

it might be HIS SENIOR year but i still think RUNE NILS LOVIK looks exactly like HERMAN TOMMERAAS and sometimes i think the CIS MALE is actually them. of course i’m wrong , as he’s TWENTY FIVE and studying BUSINESS while living in POTENTAS here at lockwood. the ARIES can be rather BOLD and ALLURING , but also kind of RECKLESS and SUPERFICIAL his most played song on spotify this year was NARCISSIST by NO ROME FT. THE 1975 , so i think that says a lot.

PERSONALITY

element: fire ruling planet: mars — the planet of war & energy body part: head , face good day: energetic , encouraging , unstoppable , bold , devoted , caring bad day: proud , self centered , impulsive , bossy , stubborn , reckless , jealous favorite things: competitive games , new clothes , road trips ( in fast red cars ) , debating , expressing themselves through stunning verbal and physical feats , money , riches , fame , drugs , sex least favorite things: sharing their toys , being ignored , cramped spaces , losing , the word “no” , relationships , being tied down secret wish: to be number one how to spot him: high forehead , focused or manic energy , aggressive stance , toothy grin keywords: willpower , initiative , determination , passion , beginnings , self belief , self destruction

headstrong and determined , rune can be stubborn and willful. he has a tendency to dig in his heels , stand his ground and absolutely refuses to be pushed around.

he will butt his own metaphorical horns against the same obstacle until he break it down — often with the sheer force of will. confidently rune believes in himself and will champion others.

the essence of his energy shows up as encouraging , unstoppable , bold , devoted , and caring. in its shadow form , his energy can make him prideful , self centered , impulsive , bossy , stubborn , reckless and competitive. this fuckboy likes a challenge , but be careful because he can definitely be selfish and domineering.

like a match that lights the blaze , he can be a trailblazer and trendsetter. pioneering and innovative , rune leaps without looking and puts his bold ideas out there.

his ruling planet is warrior planet and energy activator mars. on a positive note , he is filled with unstoppable life force energy. the negative manifestation is that he can become argumentative , confrontational and aggressive at pretty much the drop of a hat.

he is a leader and “idea person” , prizing originality and being first in everything they do. he’s a trendsetter and trend spotter , the one who gets the party started and the crowd hyped. count on rune to initiate a winning idea or plan.

he tends to have a lot of energy , which he applies to everything from tackling supersized projects to unleashing his lusty libidos with a lover.

this confident fuckboy is known to leap before looking , diving into each new experience with a zest for life that few others can muster. he loves to be number one and can be an amazing trendsetter and trailblazer.

rune is a true original who inspires others. with all of his fire power and can do attitude , there’s nothing he can’t ( and won’t ) take on. at times , he can be selfish or overly focused on himself. it can be a “ blind spot ” for him , and friends of rune can try to gently remind him from time to time to share his toys.

this super rich kid was born with an innate sense of entitlement , which helps him shatter glass ceilings but can also be off-putting to people in extreme doses.

this go getter can come across as abrasive or overly aggressive. however , rune will never back down from a challenge and can be a heroic champion of anyone in distress.

being born the sole heir and only son of a wealthy family was bound to have some influence on a young man’s personality. rune is a super rich kid and to this day enjoys making it known.

his father taught him to declare his dominance and money makes you superior , right ? those who knew rune lovik when asked about him would have told you the boy has no time or room to care about anyone but himself , which for the most part is still the truth.

he is a firm believer that money can get you anywhere ( regardless of how you make it ) and that has always held true so he deals drugs now to keep up with his preferred lifestyle.

he has a hugeeeeee ego. honestly , you’ll probably choke on his pride , but there is some part of him that wants real love. the near constant pressure to uphold family reputation growing up , to be the perfect son ? sometimes it’s enough to make him crack on occasion. every break down has only made him push harder and has driven him further away from his family.

BACKSTORY

( tw: abortion ) born on a chilly spring night , march 21st , to one of the wealthiest families in stockholm , sweden. he was the first and the last , any unwanted pregnancies were aborted immediately. there was no need for anymore children , their heir to the fortune and family business already been birthed. an heir that was hardly a son , because a son would be loved but he was just an heir to be used.

rune was raised up by maids and nannies , because his parents weren’t around enough. it was a mostly loveless childhood except for the help he was close to , his innocence lost too soon.

the pressures of being the perfect son gripped him before he was old enough to even understand. if he could be what his parents wanted , would they love him then ? would they stay home ?

his youth was pretty successful , he begrudgingly became what was expected of him — the spitting image of his father. his years as a teenager were spent stealing bottles of wine , experimenting with illegal substances , joy rides in expensive cars , different faces in his bed. no one noticed , or they at least they pretended not to , and for the most turned a blind eye to his bad behavior but somewhere deep down maybe rune hoped someone would take the time to care.

( tw: gambling ment ) once he was old enough , he was included in the family ‘business’ which isn’t what made them rich but part of the reason they stay that way. lots of gambling and illegal shit that his father calls ‘business’ to make himself sound like a professional.

( tw: drug ment ) at first he doesn’t take to it , but he finds he likes to not only deal but do copious amount of drugs. it doesn’t hurt that he’s making some money on the side !!

( tw: drug ment ) rune goes to his father in interest of becoming an actual member of the gang in the hopes of dealing for them , but those dreams were shot down. a lovik dealing drugs like a petty criminal ?! not a chance in hell mr. lovik would allow that.

( tw: drug and alcohol ment ) his father was quick to forbid him from ever even considering such peasant activity. so , he kept to luxury items such as but not limited to: cars , designer clothes , sex , drugs , and booze. he didn’t mind returning to all of his expensive things and played his part like he always had.

most would never guess that his lifestyle might not be to his liking , that he questions everything , that real love is something he has always desired.

when you look at him you would see a boy that cares about two things: himself and money. he acts like he is the best to hide the fact that he feels unwanted , unloved , and used. he hid behind family pride for a long time , but it was a facade carefully kept.

a few years ago basically decided he was completely sick of living anywhere near his parents. he couldn’t do shit in stockholm without the public finding out and him ending up in the tabloids which just had his parents breathing fire down his neck for causing a stir. no shaming the family and the ‘business’.

so after applying to several different places in the states , he was able to get into lockwood and was quick to move out on his own.

( tw: drug ment ) he is a p decent drug dealer on campus , so if your muse does drugs of any sort chances are they or someone they know has gone through rune at least once or partied with him.

he doesn’t have any other source of income ( besides drug dealing and the money he gets from his parents for attending college for business ) outside of the occasional fight club shit he does for the heck of it. he’s a p good fighter and often wins money thanks to it.

SONG

super rich kids by frank ocean ft. earl sweatshirt — “ too many bottles of this wine we can’t pronounce , too many bowls of that green , no lucky charms. the maids come around too much , parents ain’t around enough. too many joy rides in daddy’s jaguar , too many white lies and white lines. super rich kids with nothing but loose ends , super rich kids with nothing but fake friends “

#♚ –––– ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵃᶦᵈˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵃʳᵒᵘᶰᵈ ᵗᵒᵒ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ᵖᵃʳᵉᶰᵗˢ ᵃᶦᶰ’ᵗ ᵃʳᵒᵘᶰᵈ ᵉᶰᵒᵘᵍʰ ( ABOUT. )#lw:intro #i left the secret out btw

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