In a year filled with sequels and reboots, Grinch’s The Polar Express (2025) delivers the unexpected — a deliriously funny, heartwarming, and wholly original crossover that nobody saw coming but everyone will want to see again. Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch reprising his role as the delightfully grouchy Grinch, alongside comedy powerhouses Ice Cube and Tyler Perry, this film takes a beloved holiday tale and sends it roaring down the tracks with enough humor, heart, and holiday havoc to power Christmas itself.
Directed with a wink and a twinkle, the movie opens in Whoville, where the newly semi-reformed Grinch is trying his best to be… well, not terrible. His mountain lair has been converted into a workshop of sorts — half cozy, half chaotic — where he’s learning to give back, albeit begrudgingly. But his peace is shattered when Darnell (Ice Cube), Whoville’s unofficial “fixer,” and Pastor Curtis (Tyler Perry), the town’s larger-than-life preacher, show up at his doorstep with a harebrained scheme: to build a magical Christmas train that will spread joy to every child in town.
From the start, the dynamic between the trio is comedic gold. The Grinch, all cynicism and sarcasm, acts as the reluctant leader, constantly exasperated by Darnell’s overconfidence and Pastor Curtis’s unshakable optimism. Cumberbatch’s deadpan delivery bounces perfectly off Ice Cube’s gruff pragmatism and Perry’s gospel-infused exuberance. The moment they agree — against all common sense — to construct “The Polar Express of Whoville,” you know you’re in for a ride equal parts disaster and delight.
The train itself becomes a character — a patchwork marvel of candy-cane steel, peppermint pistons, and cocoa-fueled engines. The first test run? Predictably catastrophic. A chocolate geyser explodes in the dining car, marshmallows stick everyone to the seats, and the Grinch’s attempt to read safety instructions ends with the entire control panel short-circuiting. Through it all, Ice Cube’s deadpan mutter of “I told you not to touch that lever” becomes the film’s recurring punchline.
Once the big night arrives, the movie kicks into full-speed adventure mode. The Polar Express sets off under a sky of dancing northern lights, packed with excited Whoville kids, caroling elves, and enough Christmas decorations to light up half the mountain. But, of course, chaos follows: a mischievous elf duo hijacks the snack cart, a snowstorm derails the train onto a mysterious frozen lake, and a runaway reindeer ends up driving the engine. Through it all, Tyler Perry’s Pastor Curtis belts out improvised gospel carols — including the instant-classic number “Jesus Take the Train (Wheel)” — while the Grinch slowly, hilariously unravels.
What keeps Grinch’s The Polar Express from going off the rails (too far) is its heart. Beneath the slapstick and snark lies a surprisingly touching story about redemption and connection. The Grinch’s arc — from reluctant participant to genuine believer in community — feels earned, thanks to Cumberbatch’s nuanced voice work. There’s a scene mid-film, as the train stalls in the blizzard, where he watches the kids sing carols in the dark and quietly admits, “Maybe I stole Christmas because I never thought I belonged to it.” It’s a small line, but it lands with the emotional weight of the original story’s beating heart.
Ice Cube brings grounded humor to the madness, portraying Darnell as a man just trying to hold everything (and everyone) together. His chemistry with both Perry and Cumberbatch is effortless — the perfect mix of eye-rolling disbelief and reluctant affection. Tyler Perry, meanwhile, steals nearly every scene he’s in. His Pastor Curtis is a tornado of joy, turning chaos into comedy with booming laughter and unexpected wisdom. When he tells the Grinch, “Sometimes the mess is the miracle,” it becomes the film’s thesis statement — and its most memorable line.
Visually, the movie dazzles. The animation blends the rich, painterly style of The Polar Express with the candy-colored chaos of The Grinch (2018), creating a visual feast that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Each sequence bursts with texture and movement — from the shimmer of snowflakes on the rails to the molten swirl of overflowing cocoa. The film’s use of light is particularly enchanting: when the train emerges from the blizzard into the glow of Whoville’s Christmas Eve, the screen glows with an almost sacred warmth.
The soundtrack is equally spectacular, mixing whimsical orchestral themes with gospel, funk, and hip-hop beats that give the movie its infectious rhythm. Highlights include Ice Cube’s hilarious holiday rap, “North Pole Hustle,” and a gospel remix of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” led by Perry himself — both destined to become Christmas playlist staples.
By the film’s final act, when the train finally limps back into Whoville at sunrise — steam hissing, passengers laughing, and the Grinch smiling for perhaps the first genuine time in his life — the movie lands its emotional crescendo. The Grinch, standing before the town, delivers a heartfelt toast: “Turns out, Christmas isn’t something you ride to. It’s something that rides with you — even when the train goes off the tracks.” The moment, funny and sincere, perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the film.
In its closing montage, we see Whoville glowing brighter than ever — children waving candy canes, the Grinch teaching them how to decorate trees (badly), and Pastor Curtis leading a choir that even Darnell reluctantly joins. It’s joyful chaos, the kind that feels alive and real, reminding audiences that imperfection is often where the best memories are made.
Grinch’s The Polar Express (2025) is pure Christmas fun — a comedy with a conscience, full of laughter, love, and enough marshmallow-fueled madness to make your heart grow three sizes. It’s a wild, witty, and surprisingly emotional ride that proves that even when things go completely off the rails, the spirit of Christmas always finds its way home.
