<P> The film also borrowed some music and character elements (such as the Grinch's green skin tone) that originated in the 1966 animated TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! . The film was produced by Howard and Brian Grazer, and starring Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Josh Ryan Evans (in his final theatrical role), and introducing Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who . </P> <P> The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, spending four weeks at #1 in the United States and grossing $260 million in the United States and over $345 million worldwide, becoming the second highest - grossing holiday film of all time, with Home Alone being the first . It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, and was also nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design . </P> <P> All the Whos down in Whoville enjoy celebrating Christmas with much happiness and joy, except the Grinch (Jim Carrey), who hatefully resents Christmas and the Whos with great wrath and occasionally pulls dangerous and harmful practical jokes on them with a vengeance . As a result, no one likes or cares for the Grinch . Meanwhile, six - year - old Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen) believes everyone is missing the point about Christmas by being more concerned about the gifts and festivities . After her two brothers are harassed by the Grinch when they trespass on his domain, and she herself has a face - to - face encounter with the Grinch at the post office, in which he saves her life, Cindy Lou becomes interested in his history . She then asks everyone what they know about him, and soon discovers that he has a tragic past . </P> <P> The Grinch actually arrived in Whoville by mistake when he was a baby, and was adopted by two elderly sisters . Although he showed some sadistic tendencies as a child, he was rather timid and not the cruel, selfish person he would become . He was bullied by his classmates (particularly by Augustus May Who (Jeffrey Tambor), who grew up to be Mayor of Whoville) because of his appearance, with the exception of Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski), who was courted by both the Grinch and May Who . One Christmas season when he was eight, the Grinch made a gift for Martha, but attempted to shave his face after being made fun of for having a "beard", cutting himself by accident . When his classmates saw his face covered with shaving tape the next morning, they ridiculed him . He lost his temper, went on a rampage and ran away to live on Mount Crumpit, a mountain to the north of Whoville . </P>

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