So Christmas is finally here and you are either the kind who knows all the lyrics to every Christmas song or you are a Grinch and hate everything about it. Well I know for certain that I will throw my hand in with the Christmas song singers every year! I am a Christmas fiend: I love the lights, the excitement, the food, family time and just everything about Christmas. I am all about the traditions and one tradition in my family is to watch ELF every year.
The story starts with Papa Elf introducing the audience to Buddy (played by the fantastic Will Ferrell) Buddy has stowed away in Santa’s sack from an orphanage and he is adopted by Papa Elf and the elf community in the North Pole, growing up he knew he was always a little different and one day he finds out why…because he’s actually a human! Buddy then travels to New York City to find his biological father. When Buddy finds him, he is a cynical workaholic, who has no Christmas cheer and on Santa’s naughty list gasp!
Buddy’s upbeat and infectious Christmas spirit causes him to get into a manner of different scenarios such as working in a department store and getting beaten up by a department store Santa, falling in love with the stunning Zooey Deschanel and getting his father, step mother and brother to bring more Christmas spirit into their homes, after all “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear.”
Will Ferrell is the most fantastic and charismatic elf that has ever lived, his portrayal of Buddy makes you laugh out loud at every outrageous and crazy things he does and your heart swell with the love that he brings to his family. With the addition of the talented James Caan, who plays Buddy’s father, brings a great amount of grouchyness to someone who hates Christmas and you can’t wait for Buddy to change how he feels and for the whole family to enjoy Christmas together.
The reason why I think this is one of the greatest Christmas films that has ever been made is because it makes you laugh and feel nostalgic for the days when you had such wonder and excitement at Christmas. ELF reminds us all that we should all let our inner child come out and play every so often so we enjoy life a little more. I’ll definitely be watching this great movie after I fill myself up with Christmas dinner.
