Movie critics slam new Grinch is ‘too nice’ with no anger or menace

Forget about the Grinch stealing Christmas — the PC brigade have kidnapped the mean green monster and replaced him with an unrecognisable cuddly muppet. The Jim Carrey version was deemed too confronting for the current snowflake generation.

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Forget about the Grinch stealing Christmas — the PC brigade have kidnapped the mean green monster and replaced him with an unrecognisable cuddly muppet.

Dr Seuss’s quintessential Christmas grouch with his nasty killjoy personality has been a children’s favourite since 1956, but has been deemed too confronting for the snowflake generation.

Movie critics have slammed the latest big-screen version of the Grinch for losing the plot and making the villain “too nice”.

The new Grinch has been labelled as “too nice” to represent the true character. Picture: Supplied

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US reviewers have suggested the film has been toned-down to the point where it no longer has one — the villain is not transformed by the true spirit of Christmas because he was never bad enough in the first place.

“This is a Grinch film with zero point beyond continuing society’s destructive habit of protecting kids from harmless and potentially useful stories,” the New York Post reported.

“In this age of social-media trolls, watching a solitary, truly repugnant meanie have a change of heart would be a positive message for children. Instead, we insist on shielding little ones from the harsh realities of the world, so that when they finally enter it, they’ll prefer the warm embrace of their parents’ basement.”

The personality has been washed out compared to the iconic Grinch played by Jim Carrey. Picture: Supplied

The character was made famous by Dr Seuss. Picture: Supplied

Following on from trends such as safe spaces and trigger warnings for Millennials, critics say cottonwool kids are being served a sanitised version of what should be an engrossing fable featuring a sad sack with no menace or anger.

With award-winning British actor Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch, the movie has softened his look compared with the 2000 version starring Jim Carrey.

The new version “is just too nice to accurately represent the character” according to one assessment.

Critics say children are being given a sanitised version of the Grinch, voiced by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Picture: Universal Pictures via AP, File

“This holiday season, kids are discovering a new, more considerate, less-scary Grinch. A Grinch to take home to your mother,” The New York Post reported.

Industry website Empire said: “The Grinch’s mean streak is significantly less-so here than in previous incarnations, which is disappointing given that’s where the most fun can be.” Rolling Stone magazine said the difference was obvious. “The Grinch is still green but way less mean. Those expecting Cumberbatch to add a little Dr Strange to his take on Dr Seuss will be sorely disappointed.”