The soundtrack to
The Grinch, Ron Howard's live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic Christmas story The Night the Grinch Stole Christmas, features excerpts from
James Horner's score and pop renditions of favorite Christmas songs. Though a more typically quirky composer like
Danny Elfman would have been a more obvious choice to score an off-kilter fantasy like this,
Horner's compositions manage to strike a good balance between edgy humor and sentimentality. Of the Christmas tunes,
Ben Folds Five's "Lonely Christmas Eve,"
the eels' "Christmas Is Going to the Dogs," and
Busta Rhymes and
Jim Carrey's duet on "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" are the standout tracks, but songs by
'N Sync,
Smash Mouth,
the Barenaked Ladies,
Faith Hill, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra add an appropriately eclectic, whimsical touch to the soundtrack. ~ Heather Phares