"Elf" Movie Review

“Elf,” a Christmas movie starring Will Ferrell, is about a man, named Buddy, who was raised as one of Santa’s elves. Accidentally brought back to the North Pole when he was a toddler, he feels out of place among his elf counterparts. He decides to travel to New York City as an fully grown adult in search of his biological father. Through navigating the foreign concrete jungle of New York, Buddy eventually finds his father, businessman Walter Hobbs, who is less than pleased to see his son. Once a DNA test proves that Buddy is indeed Walter’s child, he hesitantly allows Buddy into his life. However, Buddy’s childish behavior, a result of his having never been a normal member of society, constantly irritates Walter and gets them both into trouble. Will Walter learn to love his son, despite their differences?One could watch this movie at any age, which is what makes it so charming, and also gets it good reviews. “Elf” has an approval rating of 84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and is introduced as “a movie full of Yuletide cheer.” The review continues, “‘Elf’ is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, owing greatly to Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers.” “Elf” was also nominated for nine awards and won two: the 2004 ASCAP award for Top Box Office Films, and the 2004 Golden Trailer for best Comedy.Some people may think that this movie only elicits surface level laughter and cringing, but I don’t think it’s that simple. Although “Elf” is hilarious, its deeper meaning—a comment on tolerating people of different cultures and societies—lies under Ferrell’s laugh-out-loud humor. I’m an international student, and seeing Buddy, who is a complete outcast in the metropolitan New York society, was somewhat comforting, even if the movie takes the foreign-ness to an extreme. It outlines what some people consider “normal” in a society and what’s considered “normal” for a person’s behavior, although there really is no such thing as “normal.” The movie shows that one must take into account other people’s backgrounds, although their social norms may vary drastically from our own.Ferrell is absolutely fantastic in this movie. He portrays Buddy as a man with a simple mind and a childish outlook. He exaggerates the character at times, but that makes the movie funnier. I love “Elf,” not only because it is a great holiday classic to watch with friends and family, but also because of its lovable characters. The main character, Buddy, has such a simple personality that there are no ulterior motives to anything Buddy does. Even if there was one, there would definitely be good intentions behind them. I found comfort in his blatant happiness and painful awkwardness. To be honest, I could really relate to it myself.In terms of comedy, this movie is hilarious, although sometimes Buddy’s awkwardness makes you cringe more than it make you laugh. His happy outlook on life starkly contrasts his cynical father’s point of view, which often leads to hilarious jokes. One laughs at Buddy’s awkwardness, at how his attempts to “help” people just make the situation worse, and at the times when Buddy’s plain cute view of things makes one smile. There’s no way one won’t laugh, or at least smile, throughout the movie.“Elf” is also a great movie about family. The saying “You can’t choose your family” is strongly emphasized throughout. Every time Walter tries to kick Buddy out of his life, he always manages to get back in it. This isn't necessarily because he wants to, but simply because they are a family. They are always in each other’s lives whether they like it or not. Because of this, Walter eventually finds things in Buddy that he genuinely loves, and over time, he sees Buddy as his son, rather than a nuisance.Overall, “Elf” is a great movie for you and your family or friends to watch on a cold winter night, when you need some warmth and a good laugh.