10 Harsh Realities Of Watching Elf, 20 Years Later

Since its release in 2003, Elf has become a Christmas classic, but upon rewatching, some harsh realities about the movie come to light. Starring comedy icon Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, a human raised in the North Pole at Santa’s workshop who embarks on a journey to find his biological father in New York City. Elf was incredibly popular with families upon its initial release, earning nominations from the likes of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Awards, with many still considering it one of the best Christmas movies.

Twenty years after its arrival, Elf has spanned off into a successful Broadway musical and a hit stop-motion animated television series. Hailed as a modern Christmas classic, Elf is a wholesome watch for the entire family. However, like any film, certain elements haven’t aged well over time.

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10 Elf’s Cringey Dialogue

Some Lines Could Have Been Done Without

Although Elf can be considered a very quotable movie, some lines of dialogue did come across as a little cringy and unnecessary. When viewed closely, some of Elf‘s best quotes are used for cheap laughs rather than having any deeper meaning behind them. One notable example is when Buddy first sees the department store’s decorated display and hears the announcement that Santa is coming to visit. His screeching would be seen as enthusiastic, but on a closer look, it is just concerning, especially when he pushes past a group of excited children to try and prove that Santa isn’t the “real” Santa.

Another example of this is Santa’s explanation of New York to Buddy, telling him: “And if you see a sign that says ‘Peep Show’, that doesn’t mean that they’re letting you look at presents before Christmas.” Considering this is supposed to be a family film, it feels odd that Santa would make such a remark, especially to a wide-eyed and optimistic Buddy. Although there are plenty of wholesome quotes in Elf, there are some that don’t sit right.

9 Will Ferrell’s Performance

Buddy Was Too Much At Points

Will Ferrell’s performance as Buddy the Elf is one of his most recognized and one of his first leading roles following his success on Saturday Night Live. An unknown fact about the Elf movie is that Buddy’s character was initially offered to another iconic comedian, Jim Carey. Although it makes sense for the character, Ferrell’s performance as Buddy could have been paced better and could have been considered almost too enthusiastic. Buddy is such a high-energy character for the entire film; it does sometimes make it difficult for audiences to form an emotional, relatable connection with him, but at the same time, is why audiences love him so much.

8 Buddy’s Backstory

There Are Some Plotholes In Buddy’s Past

At a closer look, Buddy’s backstory lacks some logic. Several questions about Buddy’s past come to mind: How Santa didn’t notice an infant in his sack, how Buddy managed to float on a piece of ice from the North Pole to New York, how Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) knew about Buddy’s biological parents, and how his father, Walter (James Caan), was not aware of Buddy’s existence. Although Elf is filled with holiday magic, it would make more sense for a Christmas film, which will already see kids raise questions about the existence of Santa, to have a more consistent “lore.”

7 Jovie And Buddy’s Relationship

The Romance Is Uncomfortable

It’s normal for a holiday-themed movie to see a romantic aspect to its plot, but Buddy and Jovie’s relationship was an unusual choice. He has a childlike wonder and is less mature than other humans at Buddy the Elf’s age. This makes their relationship inappropriate. At the end of the film, it’s revealed that Buddy and Jovie have a child together, which makes it all even more odd.

6 Ableist Language

Elves Are Fictional, Words Are Not

In the earlier scenes, when Buddy is still at the North Pole with his elf counterparts, the titular character is frequently referred to as “special.” The other elves call Buddy this to imply that he is incapable and stupid, primarily because he hasn’t realized that he is a human rather than an elf. Another instance that can be considered ableist is the introduction of Miles Finch (Peter Dinklage) and Buddy’s interactions with him. Although Buddy is supposed to be naive, the character calling Miles an “angry elf” because of his size is a poor-taste joke.

5 Buddy’s Rose-Tinted Glasses

His Behavior Was Concerning

Although Buddy’s childlike behavior is considered to be one of Elf‘s funniest elements, upon rewatching, it doesn’t have the same charm. Buddy’s approach to the world is what anyone would expect from someone who had been brought up outside of human society, but his inability to see when he is pushing boundaries too hard leaves behind a sour taste. There are plenty of instances of this, but one notable example of this is the shower scene with Jovie, which, in theory, should have sent the woman running in a panic.

This can also be seen when Buddy arrives in New York. Santa told him not to eat old chewing gum as it wasn’t sweets, which Buddy chose to ignore anyway. It leaves behind the concern that basic social skills weren’t taught to Buddy as a child, and elf or not, it’s one of the reasons why it’s hard to form a deeper emotional connection with the character. Despite this, Buddy’s infantile approach to life is one of the best things about him.

4 Buddy’s Journey To New York

He Was Neglected By His Elf Family

Considering Buddy’s difficulty with fitting in with the other elves, he was still raised as part of this community his entire life. It seems unusual that his adopted father, Santa, and the elves would happily allow Buddy to wander off in search of his father. Regardless of whether Buddy was truly a human or an elf, it’s odd that his family would let him wander out into a much different world from the one he grew up in unsupervised. Especially as Papa Elf seemingly had a lot of knowledge of the human world, at least more than Buddy, it feels more neglectful than anything.

3 The Use Of Physical Humor

There Was Too Much Slapstick Comedy

Although Will Ferrell has been consistently praised for his physical comedy, it could be considered overdone in Elf. There are lots of moments where physical comedy is used throughout the film, such as Buddy’s loud burp during the dinner scene, when he’s attacked by a raccoon, and being hit by a New York taxi. Some of these moments are a little unnecessary for the plot, and it feels that they are used for a quick and cheap laugh more than anything else. However, Will Ferrell’s talent does make these moments rather hilarious, especially for younger viewers.

2 Elf’s Theme (Or Lack Of)

The True Christmas Message

It’s typical for a Christmas movie to have a theme or message, usually to do with the importance of family or the true meaning of love, but Elf‘s main motivator isn’t exactly clear. Buddy wants to find his father, which he does rather quickly, but other than that, the character doesn’t have a need. Buddy’s journey is wrapped up pretty quickly, and although it could be considered that his next step is to get his father to accept him, the character doesn’t have a purpose until the film’s final moments. After the first act, it’s not obvious where the story will go, although its wholesome and joyful atmosphere makes up for this.

1 The Ending Of Elf

A Quickly Wrapped Ending (Without A Bow)

The ending of Elf could be considered to be rushed, especially as its climax only occurs in the last twenty minutes of the film. Santa’s sudden arrival allows Buddy to be able to save the day, as well as prove to his father that his backstory is indeed true, but this all happens rather quickly. It seems odd that Santa would reappear, seeing as he’d been absent since the beginning of the film, although it does allow for a wholesome ending, which sees the residents of New York regain their Christmas spirit,