The Grinch Review: 3 Ups & 6 Downs

Downs...

6. Benedict Cumberbatch's Forgettable Performance

Benedict Cumberbatch provides vocal duties for The Grinch, and that most of the marketing makes little mention of him is surely emblematic of the fact that nobody's coming to see this movie for any of the actors involved.

Despite Cumberbatch seeming like a fairly intriguing choice for the part on paper, he doesn't really do much interesting with it, adopting a nasal twist on his Hugh Laurie-esque Doctor Strange accent and quickly fading into the background.

His work isn't bad as such, it's just completely workmanlike and easily forgotten. While Jim Carrey brought a distinct personality to his rendition of the character, Cumberbatch sadly couldn't do much from within the confines of a recording booth.

Even though the part is ripe for some fun, hammy acting, Cumberbatch plays it weirdly restrained, which is the safest and most boring choice he could've made for the character.