Narrator Anthony Hopkins puts us inside a snowflake as we enter the busy town of Whoville, a winter wonderland where preparations for Christmas are in full swing. Several locals are in competition to see who has the best lights decorations. The citizens are running around frantically purchasing gifts. Whoville is enslaved to conspicuous consumption. Cindy (Taylor Momsen) is a young girl who has doubts about the true meaning of the holiday.

Meanwhile, isolated and alone in a cave on the top of Mt. Crumpit is the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a grumpy outsider who hates Christmas with a passion. He has no one except his dog Max to keep him company. When several kids from town come near his domicile, he scares them away. In retaliation, the Grinch decides to visit Whoville and stir up a little trouble. He meets Cindy, who takes a shine to him after he rescues her, thanks to the urging of Max.

Soon this outspoken little crusader learns about the grade school trauma that sent the Grinch into self-imposed exile when he was eight. Cindy nominates him to be Holiday Cheermeister at the Whobilation One Thousand Celebration. Martha (Christine Baranski), the girl he once loved, eagerly awaits his arrival. The Mayor (Jeffrey Tambor), his old archenemy from school days, is convinced the Grinch will never show up.

Ron Howard directs this comedy based on Theodor Seuss' 1957 Christmas classic. Although the songs in this production are instantly forgettable, the sets, costumes, and computer-generated special effects are delightful. Jim Carrey is terrific as the Grinch, a lonely soul whose heart, we're told, is "too sizes too small." He's a fireball of energy, like the nine to twelve year olds who will most enjoy this family film.

Any tale that critiques the over-the-top commercialism of our society is right on track. How the Grinch Stole Christmas also points out that the true spirit of the holiday is hospitality where the lost and the lonely and the outsiders are drawn into the circle of community. Yuletide cheer isn't measured by sales figures but by the expansiveness of our hearts.