I ate the McDonald’s Grinch Meal so you don’t have to (except the socks)

The new Grinch Meal from McDonald’s is basically a flashy combo meal with a kit to make your own pickle-flavored fries. They’re prickly, pickly and a little abrasive. But I can see the appeal — sort of like the Grinch in general.

Overall, the promotion ends up alarmingly faithful to the source material. It starts out as a cold, uncaring jerk that’s perniciously sour before redeeming itself right at the very end.

Sure, you get a cool, colorful box. But you also do not get served any new foods in it. Instead, you get a pair of socks and a packet of “Grinch Salt,” which is pickle-flavored seasoning.

So if you heard about the “Grinch Fries” and are excited to try them, be prepared. You’re going to have to do some work yourself.

The whole thing is like getting a last-minute present from