Jim Carrey understands Christmas meanies Scrooge and Grinch

Jim Carrey, who played the vile green Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," is back this holiday season as the cruel and selfish Ebenezer Scrooge, the killjoy from Charles Dickens' timeless tale "A Christmas Carol."

At the Union Station launch of the 3-D "Christmas Carol's" cross-country train -- a kind of traveling museum -- Carrey spoke from the heart about understanding broken characters who've never known love. 

"It's kind of the same story, in a way," Carrey said. "I think Scrooge is the original Grinch."

He added, "I understand that feeling of isolation and of feeling like you're not good enough, you don't want to be seen because people will think you're broken.... You blame the world instead of yourself. So I understand that character."

OK, stop! We're gonna cry.

For more information about the Los Angeles event that starts on Memorial Day weekend and when the "Christmas Carol" train will be pulling into your station, click here.

Flip video reporting: Elizabeth Snead