Jim Carrey's Version of the Grinch Continues to Draw Crowds at Universal Studios' Holiday Event
This dude's popular enough to be popping up in three different areas of the same theme park!
I have oh-so vague memories of 2000’s The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - though in my defense, it’s been 25 freaking years since my one and only time seeing it. And sure, I could have watched it again, but for me, it was a one and done experience. Ron Howard had made several very good movies and Jim Carrey had proven to be a fantastically funny onscreen performer, but that particular take on the classic Dr. Seuss story? Eh, I found it pretty bland and uninspired, even if Carrey was still going for it in the role. Given the choice in the years cine, I’ve stuck with the classic Chuck Jones animated version as my Grinch of choice.
Of course, that Grinch movie didn’t exactly need my endorsement to be a success, bringing in $327 million in its initial run. And a quarter of a century later, that particular version of the Grinch has become a pop culture touchstone to many, which was very clear during my recent visit Universal Studios Hollywood to check out their holiday offerings. Because their annual “Grinchmas” event felt bigger than ever, underlined by the fact that their Carrey-inspired Grinch is now appearing in person in not one, not two, but three different areas of the theme park simultaneously in order to meet fan demand.
The most prominent spot to find the Grinch remains the centerpiece Grinchmas area of Universal Studios Hollywood, with Universal Plaza getting its annual makeover into Whoville. And er usual, the line to meet him can be… daunting. As in an hour wait or (much) more depending on how busy the park is when you go. Far more manageable during my visit was the wait to meet very good boy Max, which obviously was a must.
Also hanging about for meeting and greeting was Cindy Lou Who, who’s treated a bit more like a free roaming character this year, without as restrictive a spot for photos.
Given how long the line is for the Grinch himself in this area though, it’s understandable if some are less inclined to spend so much of their day waiting to meet him… and yet they still might really want to meet him or have kids who are rather insist on meeting him. Which is where the second Grinch-specific photo spot on the lower level can come in handy, with the big caveat that it’s for Annual Pass holders only.
With a 20 minute wait when I first arrived (but that quickly began to escalate), this was a Grinch I had time to meet on my somewhat time-crunched day - and to see just how skilled the guys playing him were, given they not just playing the Grinch but going all in on playing the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch. And not for nothing, but it was unusually hot for a late November day during my visit, so kudos to these guys for going all out in such punishing weather and still delivering highly physical and funny performances.
But if you’re not an AP holder, that’s okay, because the actual best spot of all to meet the Grinch this year is the most recently added one, which is semi-secret, given it’s at the very end of the Studio Tour at the drop off area. It’s essentially a bonus spot where you earn your place in a much shorter line by first riding the tour. But since riding the tour rules (seriously, if you skip it while visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, what the heck???), it’s basically a cherry on top of the sundae situation.
Now keep in mind, when we got dropped off at the end of the tour, our tour guide did say this was the quickest wait she’d seen so far and was unusually short. But we only waited about 10 minutes total to meet Grinch #3, and while I’d say the line did double behind us by the time we were done, that’s still really dang good for a character this popular. And once again, the person playing the Grinch was a standout who provided great moments for everyone meeting him, particularly the kids, while obviously having a ball with the more sarcastic and flamboyant attitude the character can exude compared to others.
So did all of this Grinch spotting and photo taking make me want to revisit the movie that begat him? Not really. I have a feeling I’d still be pretty lukewarm on it. But I’ve always enjoyed the Grinch as a pop culture presence and I’m very impressed that this incarnation of the character has had such a long afterlife, even while other versions have been introduced since. I think that is a testament to Carrey, since his Grinch is likely how many kids were first introduced to him as an actor and, suffice to say, he made an impression on them.
Plus, I love how theme park elements of a title can often take on their own life away from the source material - after all, who would have thought freaking Waterworld would still be going strong as a viable attraction? So while Jim Carrey is unlikely to ever play the Grinch again (though never say never in the era of the legacy sequel), there’s something especially entertaining about the the fact that every year at Universal Studios for a few weeks, his take on the character gets to still be such a stand out.
As for the rest of Universal’s holiday offerings, they were pretty similar to last year, including the gentle overlay in Super Nintendo World (where it’s clear Nintendo has a lot of say over what can be altered) and the usual holiday decorations in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
But Universal Hollywood has really come to shine in terms of their live characters, and it was especially fun to see, say, the Scooby gang in winter attire…
…Shrek again rocking his holiday sweater (and sharing some cute dance moves with Fiona)…
…and even those New Yawk-type locals in that window near the entrance feeling the spirit of the season.
All of these performers are truly terrific and add a ton of atmosphere to the park, and I’m glad they are able to not only continue to be present but to get some appreciated variations for the holidays.
Of course one other character with a rather long line in the midst of all this was Glinda from Wicked, though she had no particularly holiday trappings connected to her (though she still was seen near some holiday decorations). Having seen her a few times before, I continue to be impressed by how strong this performer is, and how she’s cementing this character as a really great addition to Universal Studios. Look at her Glinda-vibes shining through!
Now if only we could get a Santa hat on good ol’ Dracula… Perhaps next year?
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood continues through Sunday, January 4.