Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) is perhaps the happiest person in the world, and Christmas makes him unbelievably joyful. However, when he finds out his father, Walter (James Caan), is on the naughty list, he sets out to make his dad love the holidays as much as he does.
Will Ferrell as Christmas-loving Buddy in Elf / Picture Credit: New Line Cinema
Elf (2003), directed by Jon Favreau, is the perfect Christmas film. For those of us who spend 11 months out of the year looking forward to the festive season, Elf is sure to bring even more joy to December.
This magical movie follows Buddy the Elf, who is a human living in the North Pole. He was accidently brought to Santa’s workshop as a baby, and so there he lives, making presents and adoring the festive world he lives in.
However, many years later, it comes to Buddy’s attention that he isn’t an Elf after all; so, Santa (Ed Asner) tells him of a magical place called New York, where his real father lives. Despite learning that his father is on the naughty list, Buddy makes it his mission to head to the Big Apple and meet him.
Elf is simply a wholesome, comical journey of a man who isn’t afraid to be himself, nor is he worried about being too full-on when it comes to the holidays. His attitude to everything is so wonderfully positive, and it rubs off on you every single time you watch.
The comedy, while being in many aspects of this film, mainly comes from Ferrell’s incredible performance as the Christmas-loving Elf. Buddy doesn’t really understand the customs of normal society, so nearly everything he does is hilarious.
His addiction to syrup is worrying, and his love for spaghetti with candy and chocolate even more so; but, the more he does things like sing in public and jump on display beds, the more everyone grows to love him.
Buddy is somewhat of an iconic character, not just because of his quirky behaviour and obsession with Christmas, but because of his kind nature and genuinely warm personality. He is a beacon of joy and love, and a standpoint for Christmas itself.
This movie shows that yes, some people don’t like Christmas (as unbelievable as that sounds!), but the right person can bring about a happiness you never knew you could feel.
Elf is about more than Christmas, it’s about pure, unstoppable glee, and about how family may not be perfect, but they are a part of you.
We see Buddy go through a lot in order to get his father to believe they’re even related, and the lovable Elf can’t seem to stop getting into trouble. He gets unwittingly drunk in the mailroom where his dad has given him a job, he calls one of his father’s short clients an elf, and he has littered Walter’s home with Christmas décor, much to his dad’s dismay.
No matter what Buddy does, his father’s Christmas spirit remains painfully low, perhaps even non-existent. It takes a lot for Buddy to give up, but when he finally leaves his dad be, it seems that the light of Christmas has gone out...
However, as expected, Buddy saves Christmas. Walter begins to feel some joy for the holiday season, and it seems that every life Buddy touches becomes all the better for it; he is truly a wonderful, magical character.
Elf is such a wonderful film to enjoy in the festive season. Buddy is Christmas personified, and has the most positive attitude you could imagine. He is thoughtful, funny, and true to himself no matter what; this movie is perfect to watch with some hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course), some snacks, and those you love the most.
Watch the trailer for Elf below:
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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Tagged in Christmas Will Ferrell Jon Favreau Elf