Recap / The Nostalgia Critic S 4 E 47

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Release: December 16, 2011

Film: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000)

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This review contains examples of:

• Actor Allusion: Invoked in a reference to the fact that Anthony Hopkins is the film's narrator.
  Critic as Narrator: But hey, she could still have some fun with me. I'll eat her liver with fava beans and a nice chianti. (hisses)
  • He also refers to the Mayor (played by Jeffrey Tambor) as "the Arrested Development guy".
• Actually Pretty Funny: Despite hating most of the humor, he admitted that the "It’s because I’m green, isn’t it?" line was pretty funny.
  Critic: Okay, that’s a good joke.
• Do a Barrel Roll: See Obligatory Joke.
• Ignored Epiphany: Critic seems to learn at the end not to push his opinions on others, but then dismisses it as bullshit.
  Critic: Nah, I'm right, they're wrong.
  Narrator: Oh. Well... fuck you then.
• Moment Killer: Critic says this of the scene where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes, which resembles a heart attack.
  Critic: Wow, way to ruin such a touching scene. Good God, for a moment there, I almost saw a subtlety!
• Obligatory Joke: When the flying sled spins upside-down-to-right-side-up:
  Critic: Now, at the risk of sounding incredibly droll, d'oh I can't help it!
  Peppy Hare: Do a barrel roll!
• Papa Wolf: Critic's traits show up once again when he goes over the Grinch's backstory.
• Pun: "Is it me, or are the Who's just who-rible creatures?"
• Rhymes on a Dime: 99% of the review is spoken in rhyme, as a homage to Dr. Seuss.
• Sarcasm Mode: When he goes over the "mistletoe butt" scene.
  Critic: Dr. Seuss would be proud, this is what he intended. Mistletoe butt for Mom to get offended.
• Shout-Out
  • Critic talks about how uncannily creepy the film's atmosphere is, and compares it to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
  • Critic says that the eight-year-old Grinch looks like Gizmo if he was thrown into the wash with a green crayon.
  • And when the sun brightly shines during the climax.
  Critic: So... God's in this movie. That I didn't know. Does he say...?
  Cristof: I am the creator of a television show.
• Slasher Smile: Critic, just like the Grinch, when he gets the "awful idea" to review the film.
• Take That!
  • The Critic's first lines of the review take a jab at the then-upcoming adaptation of The Lorax.
    Critic: Can't they see...
    Narrator: Said the Grump.
    Critic: ...that the remake is crap? I'd rather get my nuts caught in a Lorax trap. [beat] P.S. That's gonna suck, too.
  • He also criticized the camera shots, saying that it has more Dutch angles than Battlefield Earth.
  • When Critic goes over the scene where the Grinch tricks the sleeping Mayor into kissing his dog's butt.
    Critic: What the hell would PETA say for this little canine? Oh hell, as long as he's not wearing a Tanooki Suit, it's fine.
  • Critic calls the baby Grinch a young Gary Busey.
  • Critic says that the materialistic Whos are "as phony as Glenn Beck".
  • He also calls out the use in a giant explosion during the Grinch's rampage at the Whobilation.
    Critic: There's an explosion in The Grinch. Who directed this? Michael Bay?
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Him saying "I must stop Christmas from sucking" has some shades of this.
• Whole-Plot Reference: The review is done in the style of the original Grinch special, which the Critic thinks is vastly superior to the newer movie.

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"Now pucker up and kiss it, Whoville!"