Elf, starring Will Ferrell, has earned its spot as one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time. The hilarious, heartwarming film captures the true spirit of Christmas with its loveable characters, meaningful plot line, and comedic performances.
One of the most monumental strengths of the movie is its impeccable casting choice for the main character Buddy. Will Ferrell, who plays Buddy the Elf, portrays his role in a comedic yet sentimental manner. We see Will Ferrell’s personality shine through on the character Buddy when he says: “I planned out our whole day. First, we make snow angels for two hours, and then we’ll go ice skating, and then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we’ll snuggle” (Buddy). Will Ferrell embodies Buddy the Elf with a childlike enthusiasm that resonates with audiences of any age. Buddy’s indomitable Christmas spirit reminds viewers to not only embrace themselves, but show their “real” selves to others as well.
The plotline of Elf is a truly meaningful story that should be viewed by everybody, young or old. The movie starts with Santa at an orphanage delivering gifts when a baby crawls unnoticed into his bag. When Santa returns to the North Pole, he finds Buddy and doesn’t know what to do so they adopt him. They name him Buddy, and raise him as the titular elf. As the plot continues, we see Buddy grow up and turn into an outcast among the elves due to his physical differences. His adopted father, Papa Elf, finally tells him the truth about his lineage. Buddy becomes overwhelmed by the truth and decides to venture from the North Pole to find his biological father, Walter Hobbs, in New York City. Through the middle of the movie, the audience starts to identify with Buddy and his struggles. Buddy struggles with everyday tasks, but still manages to be positive and come up with creative solutions. Even talking to his newly found father is a struggle because Walter does not immediately warm to Buddy. By the end of the movie, Buddy learns how to overcome his struggles and his biological family finally accepts him for who he is. The plot behind the story shows viewers the importance of family and perseverance.
Furthermore, the film’s comedic and heartwarming performances allow for both entertainment and engagement with the audience. The movie has a “perfect balance” according to Mick LaSalle at SFGATE. The scenes such as Buddy shopping for a gift to give his dad, leave watchers entertained as well as allowing them to identify with the troubles Buddy has venturing into a world that is foreign to him. The entertainment does not take away from the meaningful story behind the movie either. The screenwriter of the film, David Berenbaum, mixes the perfect amount of comedy and sentimentality.
The movie Elf is a beloved Christmas movie classic to families around the world. The meaningful story plot, lovable characters, and comedic performance enhance the movie beyond any other.
