Review written by Christian Garcia
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
On the 12th Day of Christmas, good CG gave to me: his favorite Christmas Movie Everrrrr!!!
Background:
This probably comes as no shock that this is my favorite Christmas film as a lot of people consider it to be their favorite and even the best Christmas movie ever.
Elf was first released in 2003 and directed by Jon Favreau. It was one of Farrell’s first films after departing Saturday Night Live and its success helped launch his film career. Over the years, it has been considered by many to be a modern classic and one of if not the best Christmas movie.
I remember first being exposed to Elf back in 2004 which was a year after it had already come out. I remember that movie and the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy both being shown on TV every day during my Christmas break that year. Both movies were my first exposure to Will Farrell, and he became one of my favorite comedians as a result.
My Thoughts:
Having watched this film as many times as I have, it never gets old for me, and it is a movie that is a must-watch every Christmas. The number of quotes from this film are too many to list but the film is chock full of them and you’ll find kids and adults quoting them every time.
Farrell’s performance makes this movie. He plays Buddy the Elf so genuinely that you can’t help but love him. Buddy is a childlike mind and spirit in the mind of a grown man. While a character like that is nothing new, if not done right, a character like that can get really annoying quickly. Farrell thankfully finds the right balance of childlike whimsy and adult charm. We can see that he means no harm to anyone and just wants to bring Christmas cheer everywhere he goes. To the normal world, he is seen as odd but to us we just wanna give him a hug. Even when he gets into a fight with Miles Finch (played by Peter Dinklage), his character is so well defined that you know he is not trying to purposely antagonize him and thinks he genuinely found another Elf friend. His interactions with his brother Michael and his love interest Jovie prove how despite his oddness he is still lovably charming.
For me, it was funny to watch Farrell be so nice and wholesome as Buddy and then also see him be so arrogant and full of himself as Ron Burgundy. Watching both films back-to-back sold me on Farrell’s versatility. I never saw Will Farrell playing an Elf, I saw Buddy the Elf. Same with Anchorman, I never saw Will Farrell playing a news anchor, I saw Ron Burgundy. It is no wonder to me that his career took off after these films.
Another performance that really drives the film is that of the late James Caan While Farrell’s antics are the main source of comedy, Caan’s reaction to said antics makes them just as funny. His facial expressions to Buddy’s actions are what make them even funnier. He comes off so believably irritated and perplexed by Buddy that you could believe that his reaction to seeing him in full costume was his genuine reaction. It’s so subtle but so well done and it is something that I have grown to appreciate much more as an adult.
Another aspect of the film that makes it such a classic is how its design of the North Pole draws inspiration from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Jon Favreau said that he purposely chose the design of the North Pole from Rudolph because he knew that most children identify that film when thinking of the North Pole. It’s a mix of nostalgia while also playing to what most people associate with Christmas. It’s a nice touch that makes us feel familiar yet still gave us something new.
With a charming cast, memorable quotes that I still find myself saying, and an atmosphere that screams (literally from Buddy too) Christmas! This film is my favorite movie to watch every Christmas and it will be one that I will show my future kids for sure!
Conclusion:
Next year, Elf turns 20 years old, and it is incredible to see how well it has held up. The combination of the comedy and Christmas atmosphere make this movie a timeless classic. The movie gave me a lot of laughs and made me feel that Christmas spirit back then and it still does today. It does it so much that I always find myself watching it every holiday.
Looking back on these holiday classics has been a wonderful experience for me. They gave me so many happy memories as a child and getting to reflect on them as an adult has been very cathartic for me. I hope you got to find movies and specials that you loved and even found some new ones to add to your holiday watchlists.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and am looking forward to what is to come in the New Year!!
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