Elf is nothing but a festive Christmas tale.
Elf : **1/2 stars
US | Comedy | Christmas
Duration: 97 min
Release: Nov 2003
Plot: (google)
Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.
Review:
I am starting to realize I have a type of movie that I like and this may not be it. But I love old movies, or I did. They make you feel happy, Elf was fun but not memorable. At least not for me. Most of the time I found it a little silly and ridiculous. (which could be the exact point of the movie)
The film starts with introducing us to the world of North Pole where every elf lives happy fulfilling their duties except Buddy well because he doesn't fit in at any job. Because he isn't an elf, there is no sub text here, hopefully. Buddy soon hears his work peers talk about how he is adopted and is actually a human.
In search for his real father, Buddy travels through the iced land and the ocean and a forest of candy canes and end up in the heart of New York.
Will Ferrell as Buddy is fun to watch but hard to accept. I love sweets but to watch him eat breakfast everyone was a suffering task. He has his own set of adventures as he discovers the way of humans. As a simpleton he manages to learn some and others not but. But his Christmas spirit and determination eventually makes the people around him happy.
The film follows a typical pattern like all early 2000 movies did plus its a festive film. The lesson learned however is clear, Buddy comes home to alot of convenience. And that we need to have a little magic and Christmas spirit in our lives.
Oh and the best part of the movie was Zooey Deschanel.
Verdict: do all Christmas movies insist that we don't get the true meaning of the film and still show us them celebrating Christmas materialistically. It is not about the gifts but we do want gifts!
**1/2
I really wasn't a fan of this movie either, but generally speaking this kind of movie is not for me. I'm not a fan of "silly commedy" which to me is comedy that is pushing the boundaries of obvious stupidity. My husband loves it, thinks it's hilarious, but it doesn't agree with me at all😂!