Christmas Movie Marathon, Day 1 — Elf (2003)

First of all, Elf came out 10 years ago. So, let's take a moment to feel old.

Done? Okay, good. You're not old, you're a fine wine, and you've watched Elf the most times. (Talking to you, Jennifer.) Jennifer is my older sister, and Elf is one of her all-time favorite Christmas/happy movies, and probably has been since it came out when she first started college, and it's just so freaking JOYFUL.

You almost can't watch this movie without laughing or noticing something new and great about it, no matter how many times you've watched and re-watched it. I knew this movie had to be the first on my list, because we always watch it over Thanksgiving weekend to get in the mood for the holidays. This movie is just so happy and full of that magic I talked about in the last post. The movie is full of people who forgot what Christmas was, and then remembered, thanks to Buddy, to view the season as children. I love movies where the adults spend the entire movie trying to figure something out and when they finally do, all the kids are like, "DUH," and I think that says a lot about Christmas in general.

Even though kids spend a lot of time wanting toys and believing in Santa Claus, the full magic and importance of the Christmas season isn't lost on them. Most Christmas movies make this claim, I'd say, but not all of them use a childlike adult to get the point across. Plus, everyone in this movie becomes more awesome by the end in embracing themselves and having more fun.

I'd also like to point out that Buddy the Elf gets hit at least 3 times by taxi's in New York City, and instead of banging his fists on the hood and reciting the much celebrated movie line of "Hey! I'm walkin' here!" he apologizes to the driver every time. "Watch out, the yellow one's don't stop," he tells a blonde Zooey D. on their date.

There are a lot of little moments like this that I would argue set the mood for the movie. It's innocent and light and the potential drama is left out so flawlessly that it's hard to tell there could have been any at all! Like how Buddy is accepted immediately by Walter's wife and son, and never referred to as a "bastard child," and even though they suspect he's mentally unstable, they humor him and give him a place to stay. What could have been a very straining situation was completely bypassed with love, and not just because it's the holiday season. It's done because it's the right thing to do.

I don't want to go on for too long about these movies, but I love Elf, besides being a movie I look forward to watching multiple times each season, it's a movie that wastes no time with petty drama (besides Walter's work drama, which is his own struggle) and the ending gives me goosebumps! Perfect. Christmas. Movie.

Tomorrow I'm watching The Nightmare Before Christmas! Get excited!

Love,
Stephanie

          P.S. — I learned today that
          one of the the main toy elves
          in this movie is played by none
          other than Peter Billingsley    
          from A Christmas Story
          fame! This won't be the last
          time he's mentioned this      
          month...