I wrote about this movie after I saw it for the first time in 2011. Three years (and a lot of personal drama) later, I have grown even more attached to this completely inane story of Buddy the Elf. The older I have gotten, the more I have realized that there are two completely different holidays being celebrated on and around December 25th. What is the true meaning of Christmas? It depends on who you ask and what they are celebrating. It has been more helpful for me to enjoy the meaningless frivolity that comes with this time of year, and wait until December 25 to truly welcome the Christ child. In the church, December is a time of waiting, not celebration. In the US, and in many other parts of the world, December is one long Christmas month. As it turns out, the Christ in this Christmas happens to mean almost nothing...but there is a lot of warmth and common grace that shines through nevertheless.
With that tangent, back to the movie. "Elf" makes no bones that Christmas is all about Santa and getting presents (with maple sugar and elves as nice side portions). Not only that, it is a movie that is fanatically devoted to its premise. Here goes: Buddy (Will Ferrell) is an orphan who finds his way into Santa's toy bag on Christmas Eve when he is a baby. When he ends up at the north pole, a bachelor elf (Bob Newhart) decides to adopt him and he raises him as an elf. As Buddy matures, it becomes clear that he is not an elf, but he still thinks he is, and spiritually, he is an elf. He loves Christmas, and his utter devotion to Christmas spirit outshines that of the real elves. When he is finally told of his true origins, he goes on a journey to find his biological father, who Santa informs him, is on the "naughty list." All this happens during a North Pole energy crisis. The lack of Christmas spirit (which powers the sleigh) down south has led to the sad circumstance of Santa's sleigh being inoperative. When Buddy goes to New York to find his father, madness ensues.
I was talking to a friend about this movie the other day and we were trying to think of any other actor who could play this role. What makes Will Ferrell so great in this role is his total commitment to it. A lot of actors might play this role with a wink to the camera or with a hint of irony. Ferrell totally is the character, and his ability to "be Buddy" makes the "fish out of water" scenario work well. James Caan (who plays Buddy's biological father) also does a good job of showing a man whose world is rocked by this person (who must be insane) who says he is his son.
The movie has enough laughs for adults (I love the paranoid supervisor at the department store), is innocent enough that kids can watch, and it has just enough warmth to make it a sentimental holiday treat. There are also so any well written small moments that even though it's a silly movie, there is a certain artistry even to that. Enjoy!
