‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (1957) was actually improved by the (1966) TV cartoon. THAT had songs! It was enough. But further movies added nothing but silly psychoanalysis, as if you couldn’t figure out these characters for yourselves. Then (1998) Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical cluttered the shelves further. Narrated by Max (the dog) (“This Time of Year“–added (2007) for the Broadway transplantation) it includes ‘Fah Who Foraze’ and ‘You’re a Mean One.’ But it puffles and weezles with no inner spark. “I Hate Christmas” veers from tango to pop showtune without a hook. The agenda of love vs. materialism is beaten like a dead hornswoggle (“It’s the Thought that Counts“) (also Broadwayized). Cindy Lou Who’s attempt to reach the meanie (“Santa for a Day“) grates like a cattle call for Shirley Temple wannabes. Reprises riddle the Grinch’s epiphany for a whole act dragging out this short idea into redundancy. I will admit that the green one’s amusing-adjacent torch song (to himself) “One of a Kind” helps the show rise to mediocrity.
Also unnecessary, but highly entertaining is A Good Christmas to Die Hard by David Goody. Is that a Christmas movie? Yes. Is this ramshackle album a musical? “Nakatomi Baby.” “Where Are My Detonators?” “But Hans It’s Cold Outside.” “Sgt. Powell.” These are not simply caroldies, but fanboy quote-laden religious homages to an old action flick. Obsessive. Don’t worry, the sequels get their due in “Have Yourself a Yippee-Kai-Yay Christmas.” Amateur singing, brilliant work.