Elf

The 2003 Christmas-comedy film production, Elf, is a movie of wonder, joy, and all-around family-fun. Right off the bat, we are introduced to a tall, awkward human named Buddy, who, having snuck into Santa’s sack as an infant, lived his life elf-raised in the North Pole. When the time comes that he has found out his true nature, Buddy sets off to the real world, determined to find his only family left, his father Walter Hobbs. Living in a world of fantasy and magic, however, has left the now thirty-year-old more child than man, and he must face the cruel and harsh reality of the real world, a place with little room for joy and “Christmas Spirit”. So, as we join Buddy on his exciting journey to the wondrous land New York City, we are able to watch all the hilarious encounters and situations he gets himself into, dressed as a six foot three elf wandering aimlessly around a giant, bustling city. Though a bit painful to watch sometimes, what with the awkwardness that Buddy’s general personality often finds himself faced with, the naivety and child-like wonder he portrays is something I can’t help but find refreshing, and happens to be the reason why I love “Elf” so much. Out of all the Christmas movies out there, I’ve never been able to find one as perfectly able to convey the feeling of Christmas-time as this one has, nor have I found an actor able to do so better than Will Ferrel’s Buddy. A story of love, acceptance, happiness, and family; what’s a more perfect movie to gather around with those you cherish and have a laugh with?