By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I’m a softy during Christmas. I fully admit it. It’s the one time a year that I genuinely try to forgive everyone and find the best qualities in people who don’t always like to exhibit good behavior. I don’t know why Christmas is so important to me, but it’s my favorite time of year.
I’m Polish so every December 24th, we have Wigilia (pronounced Vuh-lee-a). It includes my sister-n-law’s amazing baking goods, my mom’s kielbasa, cheesecake from my favorite bakery and good times with friends and family. The best part is that all of the adults come together to try and ensure that my niece and nephew’s dreams come true. It’s just a great time of year.
I’m not religious, but I feel closer to the world and all that encompasses it, this time of year. I always spend a bit more than I should and donate a little more than I have, but I never regret it.
ELF is one of those underrated modern Christmas classics. It gets a lot of TV play, but not a lot of positive reviews. Though it scores a 6.9 on IMDB, when compared to other holiday classics, it isn’t as high as it could be. To put it in perspective A CHRISTMAS STORY (1980) holds strong at an 8.0 and NATIONAL LAMPOONS CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989) has a 7.6. In the last 25 years, there really hasn’t been a massively recognized Christmas classic. FROZEN (2013) was enormous, but that’s more of a winter story than a real Christmas tale. Whether looking at HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000), CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS (2002), FRED CLAUS (2007), ALMOST CHRISTMAS (2016), etc. they all have lower than average scores.
Maybe, I’ve seen A CHRISTMAS STORY one too many times in my life, but I prefer ELF. I’m not even a Will Ferrell fan and I’m definitely not into anything that Zooey Deschanel typically does, but still this film hits that special Christmas chord.
The movie follows Buddy (Ferrell) who was abandoned at North Pole when he was a baby. Though not an Elf, his adopted dad, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) raises him as one. As he gets older and is unable to keep up with making toys because his hands are too big, he’s encouraged by Papa Elf to find his real father.
Walter (James Caan) doesn’t even know he has another son. He’s a gruff writer who lost his edge. He has a dysfunctional relationship with his younger son Michael (Daniel Tay) and often doesn’t see eye-to-eye with his optimistic wife Emily (Mary Steenburgen). Walter has become so self-involved and hung up on success that he has been put on Santa’s naughty list.
When Buddy reconnects, he wants to impress his father, but instead just makes Walter so furious, he ends up throwing him out of the house. Michael presses his dad to get his priorities straight and nearly loses hope.
Meanwhile, Buddy starts a relationship with Jovie (Deschanel) who though first is reluctant to believe Buddy begins to see his magic for himself.
The conclusion, like many Christmas movies, surrounds everyone finding the spirit of the holiday and believing again.
Admittedly, this isn’t a perfect movie. There are moments that are supposed to be funny, but aren’t. That said, most of the time one can’t help but smile at Buddy’s antics. Even though I’m not a huge Ferrell fan, this is the perfect film for him as it allows his natural childish antics to shine.
James Caan is also amazing in this film. I love Caan. I’d watch him in anything and this is no exception. He always conveys such a manly strength in his characters. He’s like a calmer Clint Eastwood. I wish he’d be in a DIRTY HARRY style flick.
Overall, ELF is just a feel-good holiday flick. If you haven’t seen this for a while, watch it again. If this is part of your Christmas tradition, try to share it with someone new this year; and if you haven’t seen, give it a chance. I honestly wish they’d re-release this in theaters during the Christmas season.
Overall Rating: 8/10
