christian movie review elf

Christmas Spirit is Believing Without Seeing

While Elf, starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, was released twenty years ago, it remains a favorite Christmas film among families everywhere. However, it is nothing about the Christian Christmas, but it embraces the Christmas spirit. In this Elf Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

In fact, this year is the twentieth anniversary of the release of Elf. This is such a Christmas classic that if you are only going to watch one comedy this holiday season, you should make it Elf.

Buddy the Elf at the North Pole, sleeping in his two small beds.

Elf Christian Movie Review

Studio synopsis:.

One Christmas Eve a long time ago, a baby crawled into Santa’s bag of toys… Raised as an elf, Buddy (Will Ferrell) grows into an adult three times larger than the biggest elf–and realizes that he will never truly fit in at the North Pole. This holiday season, Buddy goes looking for his true place in the world–in New York City. Buddy finds his workaholic father (James Caan)–who’s on Santa’s “naughty” list, a new mother (Mary Steenburgen) and a 10-year-old brother who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus or elves. Here, now, Buddy discovers his destiny–to save Christmas for New York and the world!

My Synopsis:

When Santa stops at an orphanage to deliver presents, a baby climbs into Santa’s sack. When Santa returns to the North Pole the baby is discovered wearing only a diaper that says, “Buddy’s Diapers.”

An elf, later known as Papa Elf (played by Edward Asner) offers to raise the baby, that Santa’s Elves name Buddy, as his own. When Buddy discovers he is human, he sets off on an adventure to the real world to find his real father in New York City. After living in the North Pole his entire life, he has trouble navigating life in the Big City. Additionally, Buddy’s father is on the naughty list. Can Buddy make a difference in Walter Hobbs’ life?

Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf with his Father, Walter Hobbs, in his office.

Elf Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know

The Lord’s name is taken in vain. “Oh my g-d,” and derivatives such as “oh my gosh” are used.

Furthermore, h-ll, d-mn, p-ssed, son of a nutcracker, and up yours are used.

One character calls himself a cotton-headed ninny muggins. Another character says, “What in the name of Sam Hill is that?”

Additionally, a man says, “I get more action in one week,” referring to sex.

A tree catches on fire with elves inside. They rush out of the burning tree.

A raccoon hisses at Buddy and then jumps at him and attacks. He also gets hit by a car but gets back up. Security throws a man out of an office.

There is a fight in Santa Land at the mall. It occurs between the mall Santa and Buddy the Elf.

Additionally, there is a snowball fight in the park with kids and Buddy the Elf. It is two against several kids. Buddy gets hit in the face, as does another kid.

A boss screams at his employee. Furthermore, another man, who is a dwarf, attacks Buddy and throws him around a conference room. Finally, Buddy’s real dad screams at him to get out of his life.

Spiritual Content:

A nun is shown in an orphanage. Additionally, another nun appears in a publisher’s office.

While this movie is about Christmas, it is not a spiritual Christmas that is being celebrated. It is the secular Christmas with Santa, elves, and shopping. However, there is plenty of talk of “Christmas spirit.”

Adult Content:

Buddy was born out of wedlock and given up for adoption. Later, he is taken to the doctor for a paternity test.

A gnome is shown with an empty beer mug, and he burps. Additionally, a man has a bottle of alcohol, and Buddy puts some “syrup” in his coffee. Later, he is shown drunk.

A female is shown in the shower. Buddy goes into the locker room because he hears her singing. Later, she asks him why he was in the locker room with her naked. He says he didn’t know she was naked.

He also buys skimpy lingerie for his dad. The joke is that the sign says “For someone special,” and Buddy doesn’t understand what it is used for.

Furthermore, he takes his tights off in the kitchen. While nothing is shown, a woman walks in and screams at seeing him.

Buddy and his girlfriend kiss.

Positive Content:

While much of what Buddy does is immature and wrong, he has good intentions. Additionally, Buddy has a childlike quality that we should emulate. He loves everybody and is kind to everyone he meets.

Furthermore, Buddy says that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Singing Christmas carols is such a great activity. Consider going Christmas caroling in your neighborhood or get a group together and go to a nursing home!

Buddy the Elf being attacked by a raccoon.

Teachable Moments with Elf:

While watching this movie, have your kids make lists of “wrong behavior” that Buddy exhibits, such as eating gum off of a handrail, running through a department store or jumping on the mattress in the store. Discuss why it is wrong to do those things.

Additionally, Buddy does some dangerous things. For example, he repeatedly runs into the street. While he is hit once, he doesn’t get injured. Depending on your child’s age, they may or may not have had pets hit by cars. However, in our neck of the woods, we can see dead animals that have been hit by vehicles sitting on the side of the road regularly.

Buddy chops down a Christmas tree in the park. Obviously, removing government property or someone else’s property is wrong and considered stealing.

The infamous DNA test at the doctor’s office to find out if Walter is Elf’s biological father: The year is 2003. While DNA tests were being performed, there is no way that the test results would be back that quickly. Even now DNA tests take more time.

What is the Christmas spirit? In the secular world, it has a different meaning than to someone with a Biblical worldview. While Elf on the Shelf is popular, it is not Christian. However, you can incorporate Elf on the Shelf with the real meaning of Christmas ( ideas here) .

Christian Movie Review of Elf – My Viewing Recommendations

Buddy the Elf is exuberant about everything. In one scene, he says, “I’m in love. I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it.” While he is talking about love for a girl, he also exhibits the same kind of passion throughout the movie. He is kind, loves everyone, and is very childlike.

These are all qualities that, as Christians, we should strive to be like. It is for these reasons that I can recommend seeing this movie. While it doesn’t talk about the Christian Christmas, it does showcase faith in something you cannot see.

About the Elf Movie:

Rating: PG for some mild rude humor and language

Release Date: November 7, 2003

Runtime: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Genre: Family/Christmas Comedy

Studio: New Line Cinema, Guy Walks Into a Bar

Director: Jon Favreau

Written by: David Berenbaum

Producer: Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki, Shauna Robertson

Editors by: Dan Lebental

Music by: John Debney

Distributed by: New Line Cinema

The Cast of Elf:

Buddy Hobbs (Buddy the Elf) played by Will Ferrell

Water Hobbs played by James Caan

Jovie played by Zooey Deschanel

Emily Hobbs played by Mary Steenburgen

Santa Claus played by Ed Asner

Papa Elf played by Bob Newhart

Michael Hobbs played by Daniel Tay

Wand played by Faizon Love

Miles Finch played by Peter Dinklage

Deb (Walter’s secretary) played by Amy Sedaris

Fulton Greenway played by Michael Lerner

Morris played by Andy Richter

Eugene Dupree played by Kyle Gass

Fake Store Santa played by Artie Lange

Dr.Ben Leonardo played by Jon Favreau

Eye Witness played by Matt Walsh

Ming Ming (head elf) played by Peter Billingsley

Mailroom Worker played by Mark Acheson

Charlotte (the newscaster) played by Claire Lautier

Voice Cast:

Leon the Snowman voiced by Leon Redbone

Polar Bear Cub voiced by Ray Harryhausen

Baby Walrus voiced by Jon Favreau

Elf Christian Movie Review – Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can i watch elf.

Elf is currently streaming on Max. Additionally, it can also be streamed on common VOD (Video on Demand) outlets such as Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.

Is Elf streaming on Disney+?

No, Elf is not streaming on Disney+. However, Elf can be found on Hulu beginning November 23, 2023.

Is Elf streaming on Peacock?

No. Elf is not streaming on Peacock. However, it currently is streaming on Max.

How much did it cost to produce Elf?

The budget for Elf was $33 million.

How does Buddy get from the North Pole to New York City?

“First, I traveled through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, past the sea of twirly, swirly gumdrops. And then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.”

What are the four main food groups for Buddy the Elf?

Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corns, and Syrup.

Is Elf suitable for a 7-year-old?

Yes, Elf is suitable for a 7-year-old to watch. However, my age recommendations are five and up.

Was Elf filmed in NYC?

While parts of Elf were filmed in New York City, the interior scenes were filmed in an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. Furthermore, you can even take your own Elf Movie Tour in New York . The following locations were filmed in NYC:

The Lincoln Tunnel

The Empire State Building where Buddy’s Dad, Walter Hobbs, works.

Central Park is where Santa’s sleigh has landed on Christmas Eve.

Bethesda Terrace is the location where Buddy and Santa escape from the Central Park Rangers.

Defunct Gimbel’s Department Store – with CGI enhancements.

Rockefeller Plaza to see the big tree and for ice skating.

Who Sings the Songs in Elf?

Pennies from Heaven by Louis Prima

Sleigh Ride by Ella Fitzgerald

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Lena Horne

Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus Party by Ferrante and Teicher/Les Baxter

Baby It’s Cold OUtside by Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel

Jingle Bells by Jim Reeves

Nutcracker Suite by Brian Setzer

Christmas Island by Leon Redbone

Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

Winter Wonderland by Leon Redbone

Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Eddy Arnold

Nothing from Nothing by Billy Preston

Other Christmas Films Worth Watching:

A Christmas Story Christmas Movie

Journey to Bethlehem

Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!

Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting

Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast

Teaching with Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Schooling with disney’s pinocchio movie plus review, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

DVD & Streaming
Comedy , Kids , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

Will Ferrell as Buddy; James Caan as Walter Hobbs (Buddy’s biological father); Edward Asner as Santa Claus; Zooey Deschanel as Jovie; Bob Newhart as the elf manager (Buddy’s adopted father)

Home Release Date

Jon Favreau

Distributor

New Line Cinema

Movie Review

Three decades ago on one of his Christmas Eve stops at a Catholic orphanage, Santa accidentally acquired one of its infant residents when a baby crawled into his toy sack. Upon realizing the slip-up back at the North Pole, Santa and the elves unanimously decide to keep the boy—especially after the elf manager agrees to adopt him. Named Buddy, this human becomes educated in the elfin skills of toymaking, plus acquires the more important character traits of concern for others, the joy of giving and maintaining a positive outlook. Even as an adult—and despite his size—Buddy remains completely oblivious to his humanness. That is, until one day when he overhears two of his toy-producing colleagues discussing his uniqueness.

Instantly, Buddy knows what he needs to do: find his biological parents. His adoptive dad explains that his mother is no longer living and his biological father never even knew she was pregnant. Handing him a snow globe of a Manhattan landscape, he further informs Buddy that his father works inside the Empire State Building. Armed with enough information to get the job done, it’s off to the big city. However, once arriving, Buddy discovers that his quest is bigger than he bargained for. Manhattan presents numerous obstacles and life lessons never encountered at the North Pole. Escalators. Revolving doors. Taxi cabs. Deceptive advertisers. And romantic attraction.

Positive Elements

Elf underscores the importance of family bonding and fatherhood. Even a Burl Ives-like snowman tells Buddy, “At least you had a daddy, I was just rolled up.” Buddy is worth rooting for. He is innocent, caring, compassionate, loving and optimistic—all the while displaying a healthy naiveté. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Buddy’s biological father Walter, a quintessential candidate for Santa’s naughty list. He’s a selfish workaholic who’s not above cutting corners at work. And because he puts everything ahead of family, he hardly seems to notice that his own son (Buddy’s pre-teen half-brother) feels alienated and alone. The last thing Walter wants to hear is that he has another son, so when Buddy drops that bombshell and it’s confirmed with a blood test, Walter is faced with major decisions. Bond or reject? [ Spoiler Warning ] Walter’s wife is compassionate and willing to work through this unexpected, awkward situation, but Walter is crusty and uncooperative—at first. By film’s end, he not only embraces Buddy, he reassesses his priorities.

Spiritual Elements

Outside of a nun caring for Buddy at the orphanage, and a menorah in a doctor’s waiting room, there’s no spiritual content whatsoever. And that omission is glaring. Like too many Christmas movies, this one makes no mention of the real reason for the season. Elf’s saving grace is that it wants to quell cynicism and promote yuletide spirit (defined by Santa as being “about believing, not seeing”) rather than preach a secularized sermon about the meaning of Christmas. Elf is about promoting kindness, staying upbeat, valuing others and knowing that it’s never too late to get removed from the naughty list (Santa says Walter “lost sight of what’s important in life … but that doesn’t mean [people] can’t find their way again”).

Sexual & Romantic Content

Buddy takes a liking to Jovie, an employee at a large department store. When she has problems with her utilities, she showers at the store’s locker room. Hearing her singing, Buddy innocently goes inside, sits on the sink and harmonizes. Of course, she’s shocked when she hears his voice, wraps herself in the shower curtain and scolds him. The only skin shown is from just below the shoulders up. Buddy’s adoptive father warns his son about several things he may stumble upon in New York, including “peep shows” (“It doesn’t mean you get to look at presents before Christmas”). In a store, Buddy stares at a woman’s teddy, wondering what the outfit might be used for. Later, he naively gives one as a present to Walter. A little person tells Buddy, “I get more action in a week than you’ll get in a lifetime.” When Buddy kisses Jovie on the cheek, she responds, “You missed” and follows with a full-on lip plant. The film features a non-explicit clip from the song “Whoop, There It Is.”

Violent Content

All of the violence is broad and cartoonish. Lots of pratfalls. Some pushing and shoving. When Buddy finds out he’s human, he faints, falling on an elf. He hits his head on an elfin home’s low soffit. Buddy offers a raccoon a hug, but the critter bares its teeth and leaps at him. Buddy gets bumped by a taxi. He’s also attacked by an insulted little person. Angry that a store Santa is pretending to be the real deal, Buddy confronts him (“You’re a fake”). A fight ensues as the pair toss and tumble in the store, breaking things. Bullies get the worst end of an intense snowball fight.

Crude or Profane Language

A dozen mild profanities (“h—,” “d–n”) join such expressions as “friggin,” “pi–ed,” “sucked,” “son of a nutcracker,” “up yours” and “oh my g–.”

Drug & Alcohol Content

Moviegoers are told by the narrator (Bob Newhart) that non-elfin folks were once considered as possible toymakers, but some “drank too much”—a comment that puts a negative spin on overindulgence. Similarly, Buddy chastises a department-store Santa for smelling of booze. Landing in jail, Buddy shares a cell with prisoners who smoke. The Empire State Building’s mailroom crew is shown at a bar. Jovie sings an old Bing Crosby song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” that includes the line, “Maybe just a half a drink more.” A version of the same song during the closing credits also mentions cigarette smoking (“maybe just a cigarette more”). Buddy winds up tipsy after mistakenly downing liquor, thinking it’s a new type of syrup. Walter and his wife drink wine with dinner.

Other Noteworthy Elements

There’s certainly a bit of bathroom humor here, but nothing excessively gross. At dinner with the Hobbs, Buddy lets out a long, long burp. A troll passes gas. A snowman encourages Buddy to avoid yellow snow. In the kids-don’t-try-this-at-home department, Buddy can’t resist prying several globs of used chewing gum off a handrail and popping them into his mouth. He also eats cotton balls. And gets dizzyingly sick after numerous revolutions of a revolving door (he vomits into a trash can). Buddy chops down a tree in the park for the Hobbs to have a Christmas tree—unaware that the act is wrong (Mrs. Hobbs promises to replace it). Embarrassed by the elf suit, Walter requests that Buddy “lose the tights.” It’s implied that, as he pulls them down, his stepmother enters the room and gets an eyeful.

Buddy has a heart as big as the arctic north. There’s not a mean streak or uppity attitude to be found anywhere within. And although he’s as out of place as a palm tree on glacial ice, we empathize. After all, being raised among elves at the North Pole is not conducive to understanding the hard-bitten cynicism of his North American relatives. But it’s when Buddy is forced to learn how to handle rejection (both his father’s and brother’s) that positive lessons about the importance of the family—especially bonding with a father—are underscored. Still, Elf is not as pure as the driven snow. Some mild language problems, a wink at inebriation and a complete avoidance of the season’s Bethlehem roots mix some mud into it.

Bob Waliszewski

Latest reviews.

The Front Room

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

reagan movie president reagan gives a speech

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

Want to stay Plugged In?

Our weekly newsletter will keep you in the loop on the biggest things happening in entertainment and technology. Sign up today, and we’ll send you a chapter from the new Plugged In book, Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family , that focuses on how to implement a “screentime reset” in your family!

Get news & reviews in your inbox

Prime Video
Documentary
Producers Corner
Watch Lists
More Than A Movie Night
It’s Dove Approved – Family Movie Trivia Game
Dove Ratings
Privacy Policy

Dove Review

Buddy (Will Ferrell) as a baby wound up in Santa’s sack and then ends up at the North Pole. He is raised as an elf but as the years pass it becomes obvious to all except himself that he is really a man. The day comes for Buddy to leave the North Pole and he travels to New York and finds his real father (James Caan). Buddy’s innocent ways gets on his father’s nerves but Buddy hits it off great with his step-mother (Mary Steenburgen) and his half-brother (Daniel Tay). He even finds a love interest with a girl named Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). As time passes, people learn that Buddy will reach out to anybody but the question becomes if his father will ever accept him or not. When an emergency happens in New York City, Buddy is reacquainted with Santa and attempts to rescue Santa’s faltering sleigh.

This movie does have some slapstick moments with Buddy surviving being struck by a cab, and also getting into a fight with a department store Santa when Buddy recognizes Santa is only a “fake.” However, Buddy’s loyalty to his family from the North Pole and his new family from New York is commendable and he sees the world as a child, with hope and warmth. We are delighted to award our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal to this movie for ages twelve plus. You’ll never think of an elf the same way again after seeing the movie “Elf”.

Dove Rating Details

A raccoon attacks a character but it is not bloody and is played as a joke; a character is struck by a cab but is alright and it's played as a gag; a character pulls a fake beard off the store Santa and he and Santa get into a fight and Santa hits him with a stick; a few characters are hit with snowballs and one of them hits the others with snowballs back with rapid firing; a character innocently calls a midget an elf who takes exception to it and punches the man.

Kissing by a couple.

G/OMG-3; H-2; D-1; P-1; Friggin-1; A character is called a lazy bum; the phrase "Up yours" is used a couple of times.

A few scenes with drinks including wine served with dinner; there is a song about having a drink; a man is briefly seen smoking; a man is seen drinking on the job and another character drinks for the first time and gets drunk.

Man's chest seen as he showers; a woman's shoulders are seen as she showers.

Flatulence from a character at the North Pole; a character chews chewed gum he picks up in the city; a man takes back books from a school because they are behind on payments; a long belch; a character eats cotton balls; an innocent man pulls off his tights in front of his step-mother; a character eats spaghetti with syrup and pop tarts.

More Information

Film information, dove content.

Faith Film Producer DeVon Franklin Steps in Front of the Camera for ‘Jesus Revolution’

Cyrano: Love is a Verb

Redeeming Love: Grace Rising Up Out of the Dirt

Filmmakers Highlight the Hope and Heroism in “Gi...

BROWSE TOPICS X
Devotionals
Newsletters

When the Cynic Sings: A Decision Not to Miss in the Movie Elf

Jessica Van Roekel Author of Reframing Rejection
Published Nov 26, 2019

When the Cynic Sings: A Decision Not to Miss in the Movie <em>Elf</em>

Elf never made it on my radar as an option for a classic Christmas movie. The thought of it didn’t exactly invoke cozy-warm, hopeful feelings in me like It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas or Miracle on 34th Street .

A grown man in leggings? Ew. Spaghetti with syrup? Double ew. Elf released in 2003 and its popularity launched it into a modern classic enjoyed by families across the country. I decided to lay aside my skepticism about the movie and watched it for the first time last year.

I giggled, snorted, and chortled my way through the movie, and it’s now rightfully earned its way into the Van Roekel family Christmas traditions. For two hours, hilarity filled my home and our hearts.

A New Tradition Brings Laughter, Light, and Life

There’s so much in our world these days that steal the laughter from our heart: disease, death, and destruction, and all kinds of devastation. Moments when we are exhausted from laughing—rather than from crying—are a gift to cherish.

But the laughter isn’t the only reason I like this movie. And it’s not Buddy who holds my attention.

In the movie, we meet Walter, the hard-as-nails book publisher, distracted husband, and father. Buddy, his long-lost son, who grew up thinking he was an elf, loves a father he’s never met. Throughout the movie, Buddy makes repeated attempts to break the hard crust around his father’s heart. In his characteristic cynicism, Walter resists.

Like Walter, We All Face a Decision

Is our boss’ compliment genuine or does she have an ulterior motive? Will the delivered packages still be on the doorstep? Are the neighbors trustworthy?

But there’s cynicism amongst Christians, too. We doubt each other’s motives, salvation , and ministries. We say God is faithful, but act like he is faithless. We embrace irony when we care for the poor in another country, but neglect the poor in this country. We fail in keeping our word. We do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what we want to do in our public and private lives.

James 2:17-18 says that faith without works is dead. James is not talking about working for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 explains that salvation is a gift from God and has nothing to do with our efforts. God saves us, not man-made efforts. James is talking about how we activate our faith when we put actions to our faith.

Have you ever noticed that it’s easy to commit to something, but not so easy to follow through? This is especially hard when we’re pressed but not crushed; persecuted, but not abandoned? I read verses like John 16:33 and skim right over them because I don’t want to experience trouble.

But then I do experience trouble, and I have a choice. I can decide to say I’m a victor because Christ has overcome the world, but then act like I’m defeated. Or I can decide to say I’m a victor and then act like I’ve won, not because of my strength and efforts, but because of Christ in me.

A Moment in Elf that Changes Everything

There’s a moment in Elf where this contrast between lip service and action meet—and the results change the trajectory of the story. Walter is the classic cynic. His hard crust softens when he finally reveals that he cares deeply about Buddy, Michael, and Emily. He even tries to help Santa evade the Central Park mounted police. But cynicism rests in his heart.

The crowd gathers around Jovie, who’s spreading Christmas cheer by “singing loud for all to hear.” The crowd joins in the singing and as they do, Santa’s sleigh gains more power, but not enough to lift it into the air.

But the moment he sings, Santa’s sleigh gains full power and soars into the sky. And although as Christians, we place our salvation, and our anticipation, in the arrival of Jesus, not Santa...imagine how our faith would soar if we remembered to act on our beliefs. To give voice and action, not lip service. Our faith would grow strong and vibrant if we lived like we’re not abandoned.

In that moment in Elf , Walter Hobbs demonstrates a deflated cynicism we all can easily fall prey to—and what we gain when we decide to put actions to our words. It’s our actions coupled with our belief that makes faith grow in our lives.

For example, we might offer to volunteer at our kid’s midweek church program, not because we want to, but because we pressured to do so. We might start out cynical about our participation and complain that it’s going to occupy another evening. But as time goes on, we realize that we’re fulfilling what God instructs: serving the body of Christ. We find our faith swelling, growing, and affecting others and ourselves for the good and for God’s glory.

Elf might not be your first choice as a Christmas classic, but it’s now become one of ours. The message it reveals when the cynic sings changed my mind (and heart) about the meaning of this movie. And I love that it’s wrapped up in the gift of joy.

Deciding to sing and not pretend reminds me that it’s important that I put my beliefs into action. Action and belief combine to make effective, story-changing lives.

Jessica Van Roekel leads worship in her local church and writes at https://welcomegrace.com/ . She believes that through Christ our personal histories don’t have to define our present or determine our future and writes about the transforming power of grace. Jessica lives in a rural setting surrounded by farmland and her husband and children. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook .

Photo Credit: ©New Line Cinema

Recently On Christmas and Advent

Editor's Picks

Popular Today

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Crosswalk App
California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information
California - CCPA Notice

Confessions Of A Christian Freak

[the various brain droppings, rants and general wackiness of Uncle NecRo]

About This Blog
Book Reviews List
Movie Reviews List
Music Reviews List

Book Review: STAR WARS vs STAR TREK Movie Review: KRAMPUS

Movie Review: ELF

December 7, 2015

necrosarx Movie Reviews Christmas , Comedy , Will Ferrell Leave a comment

“I’m sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR.”

Once upon a Christmas Eve, an orphan baby crawled into Santa’s bag of gifts and was taken to the North Pole. Raised by Papa Elf, Buddy comes to realize he doesn’t fit in with the other elves. Determined to find a place where he belongs, Buddy searches for his real dad–in New York City! In the Big Apple, Buddy finds out why his dad is on the naughty list! But almost importantly, he sees that the world is seriously lacking in Christmas spirit, which causes Santa all kinds of problems! So with the help of a beautiful department store elf, Buddy tries to teach his dad and the world the true meaning of Christmas spirit and to prove to everyone that Santa really exists!

Elf is one of those movies that you would think I would not like all that much at the very least. First off, it’s a Christmas movie, and if there’s one type of Holiday-themed movie I dislike the most, it’s the Christmas movie. They’re more formulaic than the zombie movie, with their saccharine bombardment of warm fuzzy feelings being crammed down your throat, usually with the aide of cute adorable whatnots and an ending that lulls you into a false sense of optimistic security…

Okay, sorry, I promised myself I wouldn’t let my inner curmudgeon run rampant. He smells manufactured Holiday Cheer (TM) , and that’s like a shark smelling blood in the water. Anyway…

Once in a while, though, a Christmas movie comes along that, despite being as formulaic as they come and stars a comedian actor that I’m more or less “meh” about, somehow works together to make me enjoy it. Normally, this kind of emotional manipulation to make me feel things that are foreign to my cold, unfeeling blackened heart makes me want to do violence to the nearest Christmas carollers to happen upon the dwelling place of the METAL DEMIGOD, and decorate my trees with their entrails in the spirit of the Yuletide season. But this…this is an anomaly.

Somehow, the story of a human that was raised by Santa’s elves after a bit of a mix-up during his usual deliveries, coming of the age of realization that he is, in fact, not an elf but a human, and goes off in search of his true lineage in the magical land of New York, with wackiness ensuing, makes me do something my human friends refer to as “smiling”, which makes my face hurt. A kind of a…I cannot describe it outside of a “warmth” of some sort that, while initially triggering my blind rage, smoothed over to tingly enjoyment that itched more than I’m comfortable with. Truly, after watching this, it fills me with the urge to embrace the humans that I pass by, not in a crushing death blow, but in what I’ve come to understand is called a “hug”, and is considered more socially acceptable than life-crushing death embraces.

This, as you may have imagined, does not sit well with the METAL DEMIGOD. This is why I cannot watch Elf more than just once a year, around this season you refer to as “Christmas”. It fills me with warm fuzzies, something I only allow to infest my being but once a year. You too may find yourself enjoying Elf. And if you haven’t seen it, might I invite you to do so. Soon.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Zooey Deschanel as Jovie
Bob Newhart as Papa Elf
Edward Asner as Santa Claus
Mary Steenburgen as Emily
Will Ferrell as Buddy
James Caan as Walter
David Berenbaum

Directed by

Jon Favreau

Now playing.

We Live in Time

Look Into My Eyes

The Front Room

Matt and Mara

The Thicket

The Mother of All Lies

The Paragon

My First Film

Don’t Turn Out the Lights

I’ll Be Right There

The Greatest of All Time

TIFF 2024: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Sharp Corner, The Quiet Ones

TIFF 2024: Dahomey, Bird, Oh Canada

TIFF 2024: The Cut, The Luckiest Man in America, Nutcrackers

The Telluride Tea: My Diary of the 2024 Telluride Film Festival

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

Jason R. Koepke

The digital flagship location, a critical review of elf.

People were shocked to learn that I had not watched Elf . During the ensuing conversation, I learned that a number of people consider it a holiday classic. In order to “educate” me, one of these people bought me the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as well as I thoroughly reviewed it. Here you go.

I. Introduction The intensity and frequency of debate as to whether Jon Favreau’s Elf (2003) is a classic are ample clues to its place within the Christmas film canon. This place, though, is not as a classic–actual, potential, or possible–as the debates suggest, but as a meta Christmas film that makes use of this classic canon. Although effective and clever in its use of this past, Elf falls short of classic status due to the superficiality of its engagement with the two primary antagonisms of the best Christmas films: capitalism/commercialism and family disharmony. Therefore, Elf is a useful–but not significant–addition to the Christmas film catalog.

II. Elf as a Meta Christmas Film Elf’s popularity is as much a result of its thorough and extensive appropriation of Christmas film touchstones as its writing and acting. This appropriation extends beyond the references or allusions that typify most homages to the point that Elf’s entire existence is a derivative take on one of the penultimate Christmas classics, Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Unlike other movies with similarly blatantly copied elements, Elf can rely on its holiday camp, the well-utilized one-dimensionality of Will Ferrell’s acting, and the viewer’s holiday goodwill to make it a well-received and enjoyable work.

At first glance, it is clear Elf aims to make use of successful Christmas movies of the past to secure its place in the present. Buddy, played perfectly by Will Ferrell, is a human who was raised by elves and eventually learns that he belongs “down south” with his father (played by James Caan), Walter. Buddy quickly makes his way to New York City to meet Walter. Although several subplots are teed up (e.g., Buddy needs to help Walter move from the naughty to good list; Buddy-meets-girl story, and the quest to rejuvenate people’s belief in Santa), these serve as window dressing for a comedic-scene-after-comedic-scene continuum that is less of a narrative arc and more of a narrative plateau.

Before exploring these scenes, readers ought to immediately realize that Favreau’s elf-in-a-non-believing world is the obvious partner film to Miracle on 34th Street. In this inarguable classic, Santa moves to New York City and, among other things, convinces a little girl to follow her heart and believe in him. The fact that the elf version of Miracle on 34th Street has not been made is shocking and must have film executives scurrying to find other Christmas characters with similar stories.

In addition to the copy-paste-job of a plot, Elf “shares” more than a few other similarities with Miracle on 34th Street. Buddy, like Miracle on 34th’s Street Santa, finds himself working at a department store’s North Pole children’s area. In what may be the most obvious non-plot connection between the two films, Elf’s department store is shot in and around Macy’s, the featured store in Miracle on 34th Street, and is Gimbles–a now defunct chain that was the primary competitor to Macy’s in Miracle on 34th Street. While working at their respective department stores, both Buddy and Santa deal with dismissive and disbelieving supervisors who are full of middle-management firmness and empty on Christmas spirit. The overlaps are less significant and less obvious as well. For example, alcoholism has a small role in both films: Sadly, Elf portrays alcoholism in a positive, fun, and bonding light during a mail-room scene that goes from droll work to hip-hop part-ay. This contrasts with Miracle on 34th Street’s unequivocal stand against excessive drinking. Elf’s unwillingness to engage in a moral dialogue, despite being about a decidedly moral holiday, is the movie’s Achilles heel, as will be addressed later.

Like any good copier, Elf borrows from many classic Christmas films. The second-most-used touchstone is It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Here, as with Miracle on 34th Street, Elf takes the superficial aspects of It’s a Wonderful Life and leaves the dramatic heft for old timers to remember on their own. For example, after being yelled out by Walter, Buddy walks the city depressed and unsure of his place in the world, just as George Bailey does. And just like George, Buddy’s (superficial and non-existential) doubt becomes most explicit and explained on a bridge while looking over the railing into the water. The thoughts of both movies protagonists are pushed to the side by from-the-sky interruptions. George is distracted and ultimately guided to a new state of consciousness by Clarence, the wingless angel played by Henry Travers. Buddy, on the other hand, is distracted by Santa and his sputtering sled. Each interruption starts the corresponding character on a difficult journey to happiness, but Elf’s story of salvation concentrates on improving the relationships that already existed (e.g., Buddy’s love for Jovie; the nuclear family headed by Walter) and hinges not on a serious examination of one’s positive influence on the world, but on Buddy’s/our ability to perform a menial job (e.g., be Santa’s mechanic). In this way, Elf reflects the fact that today’s young adults are thrilled to have something to do (e.g., a job) instead of aspiring to explore and positively affect the larger world (as George was, first with his hopes of travel and later with his obsession of building a better community).

Even less-significant commonalities between the two movies shed light on Elf’s superficiality. For example, both movies feature Auld Lang Syne being sung by a group at the end of a movie on the same type of piano. But Elf never establishes the character of the piano or the individuals singing the song as being relevant to the story’s, and our, fabric.

Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life are only two of the many Christmas films Elf borrows from. Others include Home Alone (scary heaters), A Christmas Story (snowball fight), and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (the many stop-motion characters at the North Pole). And because each of these movies is considered a Christmas classic, it is not surprising that many think Elf is one as well. But many people also find it difficult to write in complete sentences.

A more fruitful way to think about Elf, though, may be as a meta Christmas film. That is, Elf is not churning new ground in an effort to tell a new story or capture Christmas in a different way. Instead, Elf is all about trampling on old ground. The story it does use is a mediocre rehash of an old story, and the sub plots and characters are never developed in a way that reels in the viewer. For example, the primary character and one the audience knows the most about is an innocent, childish adult who has had minimal experiences and remains largely ignorant about the world. This is the deepest Elf goes! This is hardly lost on those involved with the film; in what must be a poorly veiled inside joke, Walter’s duo of vegetable-and-farm-obsessed writers appear to have a limited plot and character repertoire, leading them to ultimately steal story ideas from a more masterful author, Miles Finch (played by Peter Dinklage)—just as Favreau does with classics of Christmas past. If there is little in the way of new and there is little in the way of interest, then a more relevant debate may be whether Elf is the antithesis of classic.

Yet, the movie is undoubtedly fun and enjoyable. And that is because Elf draws from so many classic Christmas films, with which nearly everyone is familiar. At times, Elf seems to be more focused on making references than on telling a story. For example, the only time Buddy is distraught is when the heater turns on at Walter’s condo. This emotion is not foreshadowed, never makes a re-appearance, and is startlingly disconnected from the emotional landscape Buddy presents. Why include it? To check the box next to Home Alone on the list of classic Christmas films to reference?

The reference does cause a laugh, which is the point of Elf. And the movie does so repeatedly, making use of our common Christmas-film experiences. By tying these experiences together, Elf is a meta film–and a good one at that–much like Woody Allen’s Zelig (1983) or Robert Zemeckis’ Forest Gump (1994; Forest Gump is derivative of Zelig in much the same way Elf is derivative of Miracle on 34th Street, except that Forest Gump establishes its own ground through an incredible plot and set of characters).

III. A Classic? (aka Fail) Elf’s lack of character and plot depth is mostly a result of its unwillingness to tackle serious issues. Alcoholism was mentioned briefly earlier as a small example, but three critically important issues simply had a blind plot-eye turned to them: commercialism/capitalism, family, and the role of minorities. Elf’s failure to take on these issues immediately places it in a different category than the films we traditionally think of classics–Christmas or otherwise.

Nearly every Christmas classic takes on the tension between Christmas and commercialism/capitalism. In Miracle on 34th Street, there is the debate about doing what’s right (e.g., sending customers elsewhere) versus making money. In It’s a Wonderful Life, George sacrifices his own welfare for the good of others and takes on Potter’s (Lionel Barrymore) cut-throat business practices (never mind that easy lending policies like George’s are at the root of the current sub-prime mortgage crisis). In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge has a social Darwinist outlook that is later parsed into Wall Street’s “greed is good” line. Due to a long night with three visitors, Scrooge later comes to realize there is more to life than money and the pursuit of property.

Elf, however, lacks this storyline. The closest it comes is when Walter tells his boss “Up yours!” and walks out on an important meeting and his job. And even this moment is never explored or explained. Furthermore, Walter takes up the same position, albeit at his own company, and proceeds to exploit (his son) Buddy. The fact that Walter appears to continue what he was doing before what might be called his moment of non-truth (his two sons leaving him) and without mention to change or improvement (e.g., he remains at a loss for children’s book ideas at the end of the movie, not counting the outright theft of Buddy’s tale). Thus, Elf hardly mentions, let alone takes on, the challenges of maintaining the Christmas spirit in a highly commercialized world.

Another major dramatic topic common to Christmas classics is the family. In short, family bonds are taken for granted in one way or another, but these bonds become recognized and strengthened during the course of the film. For example, Home Alone’s McCallister family have little love for each other, to the point where Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) wishes for them to disappear. During the course of the film, the audience realizes the strength, tenacity, and durability of family bonds, both in the general ways family matters and specific ways in which those ties make our lives better.

Elf has none of this. Yes, Walter does a poor job as a father, a role for which both his wife Emily (Mary Steenburgen) and second son Michael (Daniel Tay) criticize him. But Elf realizes that audiences know this tried plot and does not bother to pursue it; after all, it is a meta movie, not an attempt to explore any issue. And even Walter’s relationship with Michael is reconciled in a humdrum way, as Michael insists, and Walter accedes, that his father actually sing at the end to help power Santa’s sled. Powerful stuff—n’t.

Even if we grasp for some sort of family element to Elf, all that is found is another poor copy from Miracle on 34th Street. In Miracle on 34th Street, Susan (Natalie Wood) is a rather jaded youngster with a formal relationship with her mother Doris (Maureen O’Hara). Elf’s Michael, who is a single child for all intents and purposes, has a similar relationship with his father Walter. Both Doris and Walter see their parental responsibility being to best prepare the children for adulthood, rather than to help the kids enjoy life’s winding paths, ups, and downs. And in both films, the respective North Pole visitor helps the children discover and enjoy their childhood. However, how this discovery is made and how childhood is enjoyed differs. In Miracle on 34th Street, Santa’s elder and respected status inspires Susan to plunge into new worlds of imagination and wonder. But it is Buddy’s immaturity that drags Michael into small-time trite fun activities like snowball fights. It is this same superficial immaturity that drags Elf, and the viewer, from beginning to end.

The role of minorities is not a normal topic for Christmas films, so it is no surprise that Elf fails to address it. But viewers should be surprised at how poorly women and minorities are treated. For example, there are no strong female characters, unlike Doris in Miracle on 34th Street and Mary (Donna Reed) in It’s a Wonderful Life. And the primary female role in Elf is Buddy’s love interest Jovie, who can barely hold a job and only finds herself (or anything to do in the movie) through motherhood and serving Buddy’s adopted father (Papa Elf, played by Bob Newhart) milk.

Even in what is treated as a utopia, the North Pole, women have little importance. None of the managers are women, and a relatively small percentage of elves shown are women. Hell, Ms. Claus is absent from the movie! Elf’s non-treatment of women is not just an oversight but also a glaring gap. Similarly, race’s absence in Elf is more than a mis-focus, it is a disturbing reflection of society’s concern for a “white” Christmas. The only non-white elf is a light-skinned one who works at the table where Etch-a-Sketches are built. Elf’s inability to maturely handle any topic makes it unclear whether the use of a single minority is a consequence of sub-conscious racism or something intentional. Is the viewer meant to think Santa and manager elves are more tolerant of light-skinned minorities? That “passing” happens in the North Pole, too? Or are we to suppose that this non-white elf has made her way to a privileged status because her mother or grandmother was raped by a (always white and always male) manager elf? Regardless of which, if any, question should be asked, they are all begged.

Further evidence to this maligning of minorities is found when the viewer is taken to the fake North Pole, as put on by Gimbles. In this North Pole, minority elves are common, and their skin color is significantly darker. Unfortunately, their treatment is worse, as they are constantly exploited, scurrying around completing assigned tasks, and never placed in prominent/privileged elf positions. As a result, the viewer is left wondering whether the contrast between the light-skinned elf in the real North Pole and the darker-skinned elves in the fake North Pole is a statement about the role and relationship of house slaves/elves and field slaves/elves and/or a nuanced statement about race and Christmas. Almost certainly, though, it is a non-statement. Elf’s in ability to be serious in any way–serious story? no; serious originality? no; serious ending? no–makes it improbable that could or would tackle race, an unexplored topic in Christmas films. As a result, the audience is left shocked that Elf would be so oblivious and cold to treat women and minorities as it does.

IV. Conclusion This review has examined Elf in light of the frequent debates about its classic status. Because Elf fails to tackle any major dramatic issue and treats minorities in a most disturbing way, the movie falls well short of classic status. However, its repeated borrowings from actual Christmas classics make it a meta Christmas film like no other. And as a result of its foundation being elements from the best Christmas movies made, it is no surprise that the movie is so enjoyable and worth watching.

ELF: A Christmas Tradition

Y2k trailer 1, look into my eyes: the healing power of connection, melbourne international film festival 2024: kneecap, babes, teaches of peaches, sasquatch sunset & wake up, red rooms: half sick of shadows online, i’ll be right there: if parenthood were a modern indie, the monkey: trailer 1, omni loop: trailer 1, alien: romulus: a love letter to the alien franchise, with mixed results, woman of the hour trailer 1, the becomers: what’s weirder, aliens or 2020, kraven the hunter: trailer 1, saturday night trailer 1.

Christmas movies are creations of comfort, and reminders of family and love around the holidays. They aren’t always the most believable or technically well-crafted, but there’s one undeniable exit that you can’t deny: they make you feel. Elf is no exception.

15 years ago, Buddy the Elf hit theaters and managed to make a mark in an incredibly difficult genre of film: Christmas. That’s not to say there aren’t many remarkable ones, but there’s a lot more that aren’t, especially in the last decade.

For every one memorable and inventive Christmas film there’s probably twenty more that you’ll never see, many of which air on channels like Lifetime (which many enjoy – but it’s not my thing).

I actually wrinkled my nose at Elf when it first came out. It was probably because I was a high schooler and I thought this was somehow below me, but once I did discover it, I’ve made it a part of my tradition each year.

There are few cinematic ventures that capture the Christmas spirit in such abundance and hit the Holiday target so directly on the nose.

Through The Seven Levels Of The Candy Cane Forest, Through The Sea Of Swirly Twirly Gumdrops, And The Lincoln Tunnel

If you’re someone who has never seen Elf , let me give you the lowdown. Buddy ( Will Ferrell ) is raised in the North Pole with and by elves after he sneaks into Santa Clause’s bag as a baby (the first human to step foot in the NP). Despite his obvious height difference and his lack of an affinity for toy making, he doesn’t realize he is human until he’s thirty years old.

He’s raised by Papa Elf ( Bob Newhart ) who tells him that his mother put him up for adoption when he was a baby. His mother has since passed, but his father (unaware of his existence) works in New York City.

His father Walter ( James Caan ) is on the naughty list, works in the Empire State Building at a children’s book publisher, and has a family of his own with wife Emily ( Mary Steenburgen ) and son Michael ( Daniel Tay ).

His journey begins when he decides to travel and find him, expecting the level of elation that he’s imagined. Things don’t go quite as planned, and after being mistaken for a Christmas gram and completely delusional, he finds himself at the toy department of Gimbels.

There he meets Jovie ( Zooey Deschanel ) an employee who he quickly becomes enamored with. Jovie, other than being a singer who enjoys noodles at home alone, doesn’t get much of a history, but she’s still a winning contribution, and this is Buddy’s tale.

As you can guess, this sugar-loving jovial elf eventually gets under the skin (in one way or another) of everyone he meets, the film especially using the cynicism of his father and fellow New Yorkers as fodder. When Santa is in need of his assistance on Christmas Eve, the film culminates in a Central Park escapade.

The Man-Child

Decked out in his wonderfully created costume that’s just the right amount of ridiculous, Ferrell has a flair for embodying the character with an irrefutable spark. His commitment is admirable. Whether he’s busting out in song or delivering one of the many lines that have become very quotable over the years, he’s ensuring a response.

There’s also a romantic storyline and a heartfelt gooey center that emulates Buddy’s growth into not only a man, but a fully-formed character. The film works so well that even the predictable final act is more “aww” than “really?”

He’s a fish out of water, entranced by everything he hasn’t seen, much like a kid discovering the world. He waves to taxis, presses all the buttons on an elevator, and eats cotton balls (and old gum-eek).

Elf is portrayed as a storybook, a terrific option, not only because of the connection with his father’s business, but also because it helps to accommodate the ambiance of a fairy tale. The integration of some stop motion friends helps to guide the tale into a sweet spot of feeling classic and yet new.

Favreau creates a playful centerpiece of Christmas cheer. It isn’t as sweet as pasta a la Buddy (smothered in all measure of sugary confections) but Elf is that second helping, the extra cookie, and a tall glass of egg nog you can’t deny having.

Check It Off Your List: Elf

What do you think? Does Elf make your yearly watch-list? What other Christmas films do you love? Let us know in the comments below!

Does content like this matter to you?

Latest Articles

THESE STONES Actor Puts His Faith ‘Before Everything’ September 6, 2024
Striking Video Game Performers Get Good News About AI Protections September 6, 2024
God Brings Revival to Ohio State Football Team, Campus September 6, 2024
FULL HOUSE Star Describes Joy On Set: ‘I Laughed All Day’ September 6, 2024
Producer Scammed Millions of Dollars Through AI Music. He Was Just Arrested. September 6, 2024

NFL Rookie Alive ‘By the Grace of God’ After Being Shot in Chest

How This Actor’s Role in FORREST GUMP Inspired a Lifetime Serving Vets

REAGAN Takes No. 2 Spot at Labor Day Box Office

Game Show Host ‘Let God Drive’ — It Changed His Life

Latest Reviews

Sign Up Today For:

Exclusive faith-filled content happening in Hollywood
Christian perspective on today's hottest movies
Dr. Ted Baehr's top tips on how to train your children to become media-wise consumers

In Theaters

$15.5m DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
$9.2m ALIEN: ROMULUS
$7.7m TWISTERS
$7.7m REAGAN
$7.4m IT ENDS WITH US

MOVIEGUIDE APPS

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN

Watch the chronicles of narnia: prince caspian:.

Cast & crew
User reviews

Metacritic reviews

83 Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum The disarming comedic tone -- silly and novel in its lack of cynicism -- is driven by the fearless, cheerful unself-consciousness of Will Ferrell, a big man last seen streaking (all too unself-consciously) through ''Old School.''
80 The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen While the words "instant holiday classic" might be pushing it, Elf is at the very least a breezily entertaining, perfectly cast family treat.
80 Newsweek David Ansen Newsweek David Ansen Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the true spirit of Christmas must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle.
70 Variety David Rooney Variety David Rooney Will Ferrell graduates to his first solo leading role with flying colors in Elf, a disarming holiday comedy about a clueless innocent who saves Christmas and fosters a renewed sense of family in his reluctant father.
70 Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky Elf may be no more than a pleasant, amusing trifle, a grin that fades well before Thanksgiving, but it also will endure in the way all decent Hollywood-made Christmas fairy tales last if they're rendered with good cheer and good will.
63 ReelViews James Berardinelli ReelViews James Berardinelli More likely to end up on the snow pile of forgettable Christmas-themed movies than in the vault of memorable ones.
60 The A.V. Club Scott Tobias The A.V. Club Scott Tobias The cast wrings laughs out of David Berenbaum's script as if it were a damp washcloth.
50 Rolling Stone Peter Travers Rolling Stone Peter Travers Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, there's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play. Director Jon Favreau has the good sense to just stand out of his way.
40 Village Voice Ed Park Village Voice Ed Park Works best as a rapid-fire series of sight gags and absurd remarks.
30 New York Magazine (Vulture) Peter Rainer New York Magazine (Vulture) Peter Rainer I was looking forward to something a tad more satirical than this Hallmark card of a movie, which plugs innocence and goodness like theyre going out of style.
See all 39 reviews on Metacritic.com
See all external reviews for Elf

Or browse by category:

Movie Reviews
Best Movie Lists
Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best TV Lists
Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
Common Sense Selections for TV
Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

Book Reviews
Best Book Lists
Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Game Reviews
Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Podcast Reviews
Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

App Reviews
Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

YouTube Channel Reviews
YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

How to Help Kids Build Character Strengths with Quality Media

Family Tech Planners
Digital Skills
All Articles
Latino Culture
Black Voices
Asian Stories
Native Narratives
LGBTQ+ Pride
Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Elf: buddy's musical christmas.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 5 Reviews
Kids Say 4 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Animated version of much-loved tale invites younger viewers.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Animation lessens the impact of Buddy getting hit by a car multiple times. Most

"Butts." Rarely insults such as "jerk," "snot nose,&quo

In one scene, Buddy drowns his sorrows in a bar and acts drunk, but it's sai

One kiss on the cheek.

This special is based on a live-action movie and a Broadway musical.

Any Positive Content?

Feel-good reminders of hearty gifts of the season: spending time with loved ones

Buddy is unfailingly kind, generous, cheerful, and determined to see the best in

The story intends to entertain rather than to educate.

Violence & Scariness

Animation lessens the impact of Buddy getting hit by a car multiple times. Most incidents leave no trace, but in one his leg is bent at an odd angle, and lightning bolts indicate pain. He's also thrown out of a few doors and once gets kicked in the face. A brawl erupts into a cloud of dust, obscuring any actual fighting. Naughty Listers are grumpy and somewhat menacing, but they experience a change of heart.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Butts." Rarely insults such as "jerk," "snot nose," and "fatso."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

In one scene, Buddy drowns his sorrows in a bar and acts drunk, but it's said he's drinking syrup, not alcohol.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive messages.

Feel-good reminders of hearty gifts of the season: spending time with loved ones, spreading joy, and believing in things unseen. Even the most hardened hearts can be warmed by the power of love. There's happiness in feeling like you belong, but at the same time your destiny is what you make it. Even when people don't live up to our expectations, giving the relationship a chance can have positive results. A man's small stature is the basis of a joke when he's mistaken for an elf.

Positive Role Models

Buddy is unfailingly kind, generous, cheerful, and determined to see the best in every person and situation. He's also comfortable with himself, regardless of what others think of him. In contrast, Walter is self-centered, greedy, and blind to his family's needs, but he acknowledges his wrongdoing when he comes face to face with it. Others also experience positive changes in the spirit of the season. Some adults' lack of faith in Santa Claus is noted frequently.

Educational Value

Parents need to know that Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas is an animated merging of the stories of the 2003 hit movie Elf and its Broadway musical subsidiary. Compared to the full-length film, there's significantly less marginal content in this stop-animation version; some comical impacts (Buddy is hit by multiple cars, for instance) and infrequent insults such as "fatso" and "jerk" are as edgy as it gets. In exchange, viewers get even sweeter moments of family emotion, lots of Christmas cheer, and a soundtrack packed with songs that are destined to become sing-along favorites. Need more reason to love it? Even for all his absurdity, misfit Buddy is an excellent example of the joy of being true to yourself, despite other people's expectations. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say (5)
Kids say (4)

Based on 5 parent reviews

Entertaining Christmas Movie

Wish i had read about it., what's the story.

ELF: BUDDY'S MUSICAL CHRISTMAS is a stop-animation retelling of the story of Buddy (voiced by Jim Parsons ), a human who was raised by elves after he hitched a ride to the North Pole in Santa's ( Ed Asner ) bag as a baby. After learning of his true heritage from Santa, Buddy sets out for New York City in search of his biological father, Walter Hobbs ( Mark Hamill ), who's totally unaware that he has an overgrown, elf-shaped adult son. But what Buddy quickly discovers is that Walter's a workaholic who has no time for Christmas or even his wife, Emily ( Rachael MacFarlane ), and son, Michael ( Max Charles ). Worse yet, he's a longstanding member of Santa's Naughty List. It will take every bit of holiday cheer Buddy and his new family and friend, Jovie (Kate Micucci), can muster to save Walter from the ranks of the Naughty Listers and to generate enough Christmas cheer to get Santa's sleigh up and running again in time for the Christmas Eve festivities.

Is It Any Good?

This is a Christmas story worthy of a place on your traditions list. Since its debut in 2003, Buddy's story has warmed the holiday hearts of legions of fans, thanks in large part to Will Ferrell 's masterful portrayal of the unfailingly cheerful and spirited elf. His are big shoes to fill -- not only in comparison to average-size elves' but also because he left such a mark on the role itself that not many could follow (even in voice only) to fans' satisfaction. Fortunately, the creators cast one of the few who could pull it off in Parsons, who is so in touch with his inner Buddy that it's a seamless transition to this special's animated style.

For all its broad appeal, the original movie still had a few snags that kept it from being something the entire family could watch together, but that's definitely not the case for Buddy's Musical Christmas . Even though it loses some of the laugh-out-loud absurdity that accompanied Ferrell's lanky, be-legginged image, the stop-motion animation recalls Christmas classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ; offers a slightly more streamlined story; and yields nine lively musical numbers and heartwarming themes about families and the magic of the holiday.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what the holidays mean to them. What are some favorite traditions you enjoy during the season? How do they reflect your family's values?

What makes Buddy such an endearing character? In what ways could he be considered a role model ? Why is family so important to him, despite never having known them?

If your family has seen the live-action movie as well, compare the content and themes in both. What aspects of the story were omitted from this version, and why was that done? How do the changes alter the stories' target audience? Did you like the music in this version? Was this story worthy of a remake?

Movie Details

On DVD or streaming : November 3, 2015
Cast : Jim Parsons , Mark Hamill , Rachael MacFarlane , Ed Asner
Inclusion Information : Gay actors, Female actors
Studio : Warner Home Video
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Great Boy Role Models , Holidays
Run time : 60 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : January 2, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

Want personalized picks for your kids' age and interests?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Prep & Landing

Best holiday tv specials, best holiday movies for kids, related topics.

Great Boy Role Models

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Reviewed by: Chris Monroe STAFF WRITER


Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Genre:
Length:
Year of Release:
USA Release:

Featuring	, , , , Bob Newhart
Director
Producer
Distributor	, division of Warner Bros. Pictures

A s usual this year, Santa Claus is coming to town, but before he does, so is an innocent, six-foot three-inch tall, wide-eyed, loveable, pure-as-the-driven-snow Santa helper, whose gift is not a sleigh full of material goods but what people need even more this season: a dose of Christmas spirit. “Elf” delivers a fair amount of holiday cheer, along with a host of homages to tales from Christmas Past and a sack full of humor.

Raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) and Santa Claus ( Edward Asner ), Buddy ( Will Ferrell ) leaves his family of elves at the North Pole and ventures into its antithesis—New York City—in search of his biological father, Walter Hobbs ( James Caan ). The contrast between these two settings, as well as between the trusting, child-like character of Buddy and the jaded, cynical businessman character of Walter, sets up most of the comedy for this fish-out-of-water scenario. The script is rooted in comedy and nearly every scene plays for a laugh, but eventually weaves into a well-rounded, family-friendly film that’s hoped to fit into the cannon of Christmas classics.

Director John Favreau (“Made,” “Swingers,” “ Rudy ”) has “taken a few clubs out of his bag” in order to make this film. Walter Hobb’s Scrooge-type character is the roughest around the edges, which shows in some of the language he uses. The film is rated PG for mild rude humor and language. Apart from father’s bad attitude (and perhaps a few other isolated incidents) the worst language you’ll hear in this film is “h*ll” and “up yours” which are both said twice as an angry exclamation.

Buddy’s naivet and simplicity also provide many scenarios for him to unintentionally misbehave. For example, Buddy hears his friend, Jovie ( Zooey Deschanel ) singing in the shower and goes to listen to her. When she discovers he is in the bathroom, she confronts him and tells him to leave. Similarly, Buddy literally drops his pants in the kitchen when Walter tells him to “lose the tights,” and later Buddy gets drunk with a co-worker at his dad’s company when he adds liquor to his coffee thinking it is a kind of sweetener. The faux pas of each situation is intended to be humorous due to Buddy’s innocence.

Whether or not you support the idea of Santa Claus at Christmas, this film at least uses it to promote a clear biblical concept: faith . At one point, Santa’s sleigh is having trouble flying due to people’s lack of Christmas spirit. Seeing that the “Clausometer” (instrument that measures Christmas spirit) is low, Santa enlightens us with the theme of the story saying, “Christmas spirit is about believing, not seeing.” This is a simple definition of faith and the idea plays out through the rest of the film until its climax. [Learn about the real meaning of Christmas ]

“Elf” appeals to kids, as well as to the “kid” in each adult. There is a lot of slapstick humor, but overall “Elf” inspires us to think about what true goodness can do to affect even the most hardened people.

See our INTERVIEWS with the cast/crew of this film

See our EXCLUSIVE interview with Elf’s co-producer, Todd Komarnicki

Young people

The 10 Most Forgettable Movies of The Last 10 Years, Ranked

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

For the past decade, in an age where there is a constant and incredibly accessible stream of TV and film content, especially on streaming services, it takes more impressive moments, visual styles, performances, or writing than ever for something to stand out from the masses. If these aren't executed to near perfection, it is easy for a movie to fade into the back of the audience's minds.

While being forgettable doesn't necessarily mean a film is bad, it could even be made up of some very compelling styles, performances, and ideas, missing that wow factor that viewers are blessed with frequently on screen can make a movie simply a distant memory to many.

10 'Onward' (2020)

Directed by dan scanlon.

Featuring the voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt , Disney Pixar's 2020 release Onward is a tale of family, love, grief, and adventure. Onward follows elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot as they journey to find an artifact that will resurrect their dead father for a day, allowing them to speak to him just one time.

While there are many positives to Onward, from the focus on family and brotherly love to the attempts at LGBTQ+ inclusion , Onward unfortunately fades into the background for many reasons. While the COVID-19 pandemic closed theaters during its release, the success of the better-received Pixar feature Soul also stole some of the movie's spotlight. While Onward is simply underrated for some viewers, others found that its exploration of death and grief was less powerful than the studio's other features, and the fantasy elements sometimes made the narrative feel disjointed.

Not available

9 'Power Rangers' (2017)

Directed by dean israelite.

Kimberly preparing to fire the zord gun in Power Rangers 2017

Since 1993, with the release of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers , the Power Rangers franchise has delighted young audiences with its combat, gadgets, and powerful, heroic characters across multiple series and movies . However, the most recent theatrical release, 2017's Power Rangers failed to make any lasting impact on many of the franchise's fans.

Despite praised performances from the likes of Dacre Montgomery , Naomi Scott , and RJ Cyler , reviews from critics and audiences were overwhelmingly neutral, saying that the film's attempt at finding a balance between the goofiness of the television show and the seriousness of other mainstream action movies left Power Rangers with nothing particularly special or memorable to give, even if it was enjoyable for a single viewing.

Power Rangers

8 'tomb raider' (2018), directed by roar uthaug.

The video game franchise Tomb Raider , which follows British archaeologist Lara Croft in her adventures, is one of the most cross-generationally recognizable and has generated billions of dollars. Therefore, it's no wonder that screen adaptations are constantly in the works, even if they struggle to land with audiences.

2018 saw Croft return to the screen, played by Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander , in Tomb Raider , which depicts her journey to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. While the movie was praised for its action sequences, its unoriginal narrative and more bland take on Lara's character were criticized. With the 2001 movie having something of a cult following, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge set to bring the character to the small screen in the near future, the 2018 movie fades to the background when thinking about the franchise.

Tomb Raider

7 'dark phoenix' (2019), directed by simon kinberg.

Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, wears a burgundy jacket & looks sadly at something offscreen in Dark Phoenix

Over the years, Marvel fans have been blessed with many full-on, exciting, and truly memorable on-screen adaptations of the beloved X-Men characters, from Days of Future Past to Logan . Unfortunately, 2019's Dark Phoenix is not one of them. Dark Phoenix tells the origin story of the popular character Jean Grey ( Sophie Turner ) as she battles against memories of her childhood and deals with her deteriorating mental health as her powers begin enhancing.

Like its predecessor, X-Men: Apocalypse , Dark Phoenix received mixed reviews from audiences and critics, having done poorly in early test screenings too, and is also recognized as one of the biggest box office bombs of the 21st century. When it comes to X-Men movies, Dark Phoenix' s somewhat clunky script, questionable dialogue, and unclear character direction have made it forgettable for many fans amongst beloved movies such as Deadpool & Wolverine and X-Men: First Class . However, one thing Dark Phoenix proves is that Marvel fans love Jean Grey's character, no matter how many times her origin story adaptations slip from their minds.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

6 'amsterdam' (2022), directed by david o. russell.

Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in Amsterdam

It is quite a challenge to round up a group of such current, talented, and beloved actors, cast them in the same movie, and still have that movie quickly snap out of the brains of those who actually watched it, and yet 2022's Amsterdam manages it. While many complimented the work of the large ensemble cast, featuring the likes of Margot Robbie , John David Washington , Christian Bale , Anya Taylor-Joy , and Taylor Swift , others believed that not even these A-listers could save the film.

A saturated screenplay and narrative, a runtime of over 130 minutes, a lack of marketing, and an apparent and uncharacteristic lack of chemistry between the leads meant that not even the production and costume design, which was praised by many, helped Amsterdam stand out.

Similarly, controversy behind the scenes, with Director David O. Russell meant that many made sure Amsterdam evaporated from their minds before they even watched the movie.

5 'Pan' (2015)

Directed by joe wright.

Joe Wright has directed some incredibly beloved and memorable movies, such as Pride & Prejudice and Atonement , but unfortunately, 2015's Pan is not one of them. The film tells the origin story of Peter Pan ( Levi Miller ) and Captain Hook's ( Garrett Hedlund ) rivalry, predating the tale that we all know and love. However, in a consistent sea of Peter Pan adaptations and inspirations, Pan is a forgettable on-screen addition.

From simple issues such as a convoluted plot and excessive CGI to the controversy of casting Rooney Mara in the role of Tiger Lily, who is Native American, Pan's poor reviews and box office performance have effectively removed the movie from the memories of the masses. However, many agree that Levi Miller's performance in the lead role almost makes up for the forgettable story.

4 'Gods of Egypt' (2016)

Directed by alex proyas.

Zaya, played by Courtney Eaton, is embraced by Bek, played by Brenton Thwaites, in a crowd

In the current creative climate, with the science fiction/fantasy genre being dominated by adaptations of the likes of Dune , Star Wars , and The Lord of the Rings properties, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out with a lack of, or less concrete, source material. For some, this was the downfall of Alex Proya's 2016 movie Gods of Egypt , but for others, there were many factors that made this movie fade quickly out of the conversation.

Gods of Egypt follows a mortal thief and the Egyptian god Horus, who team up to fight the God of Darkness, Set, and save their loved ones. Despite boasting a cast that includes Game of Thrones ' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Chadwick Boseman , Gerard Butler , and Yellowjackets ' Courtney Eaton , the film was off to a bad start before it was even released. Criticized for the majority White cast, Gods of Egypt also went on to be called dull and repetitive, overly bloated, and disjointed. With the sensational fantasy of the 21st century, it is easy to see why Gods of Egypt has become forgettable.

Gods of Egypt

3 'the divergent series: allegiant' (2016), directed by robert schwentke.

Theo James and Shailene Woodley in Divergent: Allegiant

For many young people, the 2010s was something of a golden age of teen fantasy dystopian fiction adaptations, with the likes of The Hunger Games , The Maze Runner , and Ready Player One all finding success on the big screen. However, the Divergent series, adapted from the novels by Veronica Roth, failed to make the same waves.

Following a society that is divided into six distinct factions, decided by prominent human behavior, the Divergent series, led by Shailene Woodley and Theo James , received criticism for directionlessly combining teen fantasy tropes but praise for the performances and action sequences. However, the third installment, Allegiant , was so poorly received that it effectively ended the franchise . Departing greatly from the source text, Allegiant lost the audience of book fans and lost mainstream audiences due to being deemed completely unoriginal. Such vast changes from the novel, and the poor decision to split the narrative into two potential movies, mean that many like to forget Allegiant exists altogether.

The Divergent Series: Allegiant

2 'valerian and the city of a thousand planets' (2017), directed by luc besson.

Cara Delevingne as Laureline, holding a light-based butterfly on her hand in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Luc Besson's 2017 space opera movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was not only something of a box office bomb , but it is also largely forgotten about when it comes to discussion of sci-fi in the 21st century. Valerian was a real passion project for Besson, who financed the movie himself at $223 million, making it the most expensive independent movie of all time. This makes its unfortunate forgettability even sadder.

Despite being visually stunning, Valerian, which follows Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevigne) as they protect the metropolis Alpha from unknown forces, lost many audiences due to it's complex and often directionless narrative. Many praised the world-building within the movie but argued that the narrative explored in Valerian wasn't as exciting as it could have been, given the scope of the original comic's lore.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

1 'snake eyes' (2021).

Set within the G.I. Joe universe, Snake Eyes shows the origin story of the titular character, a member of the G.I. Joe team, as he battles with the truths of his past as an ancient Japanese clan teaches him the ways of the ninja. The cast features Henry Golding, Úrsula Corberó, and Samara Weaving, but even actors with strong followings couldn't save the movie from all but vanishing out of the conversation.

Audiences and critics criticized the dialogue, the lead performance being too polished and clean, and the action sequences being nothing viewers haven't seen before. However, one of the biggest observations was that Snake Eyes read like an origin story that simply served to ignite a franchise, rather than one that stands on its own feet. With no franchise visible in the near future, Snake Eyes arguably serves little purpose to the audience it hoped to find.

NEXT: The 10 Most Forgettable Movies of All Time, According to Reddit

The Divergent Series (2014)

an image, when javascript is unavailable

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘The Luckiest Man in America’ Review: Paul Walter Hauser Rigs a Classic Game Show in a Sleazy Contained Thriller

Christian zilko.

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Share on LinkedIn
Show more sharing options
Submit to Reddit
Post to Tumblr
Print This Page
Share on WhatsApp

At their best, game shows have always been defined by their juxtaposition of genuine stakes and utter ridiculousness. Audiences see flashing lights, gaudy neon color palettes, and spray-tanned hosts with unconvincingly dyed hair, but contestants see a battlefield where fortunes can be won and lost . Daytime shows revolve around games of chance deemed simple enough to provide the most mindless of background noise while people do chores around the house, but the money involved often has life-changing implications for those involved.

When Larson walks into the casting offices for “Press Your Luck” in 1984, some dueling incentives are immediately introduced. He’s an unemployed ice cream truck driver who dreams of making enough money to get his life back on track and reconnect with his estranged daughter. But the show’s producers, led by showrunner Bill Carruthers (David Strathairn), see the disheveled man with a visible passion for the show as a lovable loser who will delight their TV audiences. Against the advice of his aides, Carruthers opts to fast-track Larson through the already-brief ’80s background check process and put him on the show the next day.

But when the second round of spinning rolls around, Michael just keeps winning. And winning. And winning. Even as he breaks the show’s prize money record with a winning streak that’s almost statistically impossible, he refuses to pass a spin. With the show bleeding unprecedented amounts of cash, Carruthers is forced to coordinate with livid network executives while simultaneously launching an investigation into Larson’s past. His eventual findings paint a portrait of a man whose obsession with this game show could be a bandage for a very deep wound.

Still, Hauser’s performance as a man whose determination to use his unique talents to forge the emotional connections that otherwise evade him holds the entire film together. Game shows might not have quite the cultural cache that they did in 1984, but “The Luckiest Man in America” still feels brutally relevant in 2024 for illustrating the ways that humans try to use parasocial relationships with entertainment to address voids in their lives that aren’t easily filled.

“The Luckiest Man in America” will have its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution.

Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best reviews, streaming picks, and offers some new musings, all only available to subscribers.

Most Popular

Screen Rant

Christian oliver: 10 best movies and tv shows.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

New Phantom Of The Opera Movie In The Works At Disney+ With High School Musical Director

Star wars introduced luke skywalker's clone wars mentor 41 years ago, & he's still canon, beetlejuice beetlejuice ending: why the maitlands don't have a cameo explained by writer.

While the late actor may not be one of the most recognized in Hollywood, the best Christian Oliver movies and TV shows reveal the underappreciated depth of his talent. Born in Germany in 1972, Christian Oliver tragically passed away along with his two daughters in a plane crash in the Caribbean in early 2024. His career was still incredibly active at the time of his passing, and from his earliest appearances in movies like The Baby-Sitters Club through to TV thrillers like 2020's Hunters, he showcased a versatility few actors can match.

German actor Christian Oliver starred alongside an incredible number of Hollywood A-Listers including Tom Cruise, George Clooney, and Cate Blanchett. He was a reliable and dependable talent, adding a level of authenticity to any movie or TV show he starred in, whether it was a central role, a minor character, or even simply additional voice-work to add immersion to a scene. With a career spanning three decades, the best Christian Oliver movies and TV shows reveal an actor who perhaps didn't get the big break they deserved, but remained wholly dedicated to their craft.

10 Tribute (2009)

Christian oliver played steve chensky.

2009's Tribute may not be the most well-known of the movies Christian Oliver starred in prior to his death, but it does mark one of his best performances outside films and TV shows in his native Germany. The Lifetime movie is based on the novel of the same name by Nora Roberts, and part of the network's collection of adaptations of her work that also includes High Noon, Midnight Bayou, and Northern Lights.

Christian Oliver stars alongside the late Brittany Murphy and Sex and the City star Jason Lewis. The trio all deliver solid performances in the surreal drama-thriller, which focuses on Murphy's character, Cilla McGowan. While fixing up her Grandmother's old house, Cilla is plagued by visions of her tragic, and suspicious, death decades earlier. While Jason Lewis plays the male romantic lead in the Lifetime movie, Christian Oliver's Steve Chensky provides an important emotional counterweight, a role that allowed his talents to truly shine.

9 Valkyrie (2008)

Christian oliver plays sergeant-major adam.

Your Rating

Your comment has not been saved

Valkyrie is a historical drama starring Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, and Carice van Houten from director Bryan Singer. The plot revolves around the use of Operation Valkyrie to take control of Germany and assassinate Adolf Hitler. Cruise stars as real-life historical figure Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg with David Bamber as Adolf Hitler.

Brian Singer's Valkyrie may not reach the top of many lists of best World War 2 movies , but that's only because it's incredibly underrated, and the genre is undeniably saturated. However, the 2008 thriller starring Tom Cruise, Kenneth Brannagh, and Bill Nighy is an incredibly solid release, with the majority of criticisms being around historic accuracy rather than the quality of the film itself. What's more, it includes a solid (albeit brief) appearance from Christian Oliver.

Valkyrie ranks among the best Christian Oliver movies not because he's the central character, but because it showcases his ability to take a minor part, play it to perfection, and ensure the immersion of the audience is never broken. It's an underrated skill among actors but an incredibly important one, and had an inexperienced extra played Sergeant-Major Adam, then viewers would likely have snapped out of the illusion of viewing Germany in the Second World War and remembered they were, in fact, watching a movie made in the 2000s starring Tom Cruise.

8 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Christian oliver lends his voice to several scenes.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Not available

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fifth entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by James Mangold and starring Harrison Ford in his final portrayal of the titular character. The film will see Jones in 1969 on an adventure with his goddaughter, Helena Shaw, as they find themselves in the middle of an uneasy space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, with the former enlisting the help of former Nazis with ulterior motives.

For the same reasons that Christian Oliver deserves recognition and respect for his appearance in Valkyrie, his voice-acting in 2023's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny also warrants a mention when looking at the best movies and TV shows of his career. Oliver doesn't play any named characters in the latest Indiana Jones movie, but his contributions ensured that the soundscape of the scenes set in WW2 was just as immersive as the visuals.

Christian Oliver voices various Nazi soldiers in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This kind of voice-acting is both as essential as it is underappreciated, and despite how simple it seems on the surface, it's not something that inexperienced actors can just step up and do with satisfactory results (especially in blockbuster movies like Indiana Jones ). Was this the defining moment of Christian Oliver's career? Of course not. However, when looking back at the late actor's filmography and celebrating the contribution he made to cinema during his life, subtle yet important roles like this more than deserve a mention.

7 The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)

Christian oliver played luca.

Christian Oliver in The Babysitters Club

The 1995 movie adaptation of Ann M. Martin's The Baby-Sitters Club novels isn't as renowned as the TV series of the same name , but it was a solid directorial debut from Melanie Mayron, and marked one of the first feature-film roles of Christian Oliver's career. Oliver played teen heart-throb Luca, a Swiss exchange student that Stacey (Bre Blair) harbors clumsily-expressed affection for. Christian Oliver was the perfect choice for the lighthearted comedy, both because of his performance and, thanks to looks that allowed him to pursue a career as a model, the fact he was believable as an incredibly easy character for a teen girl to have a crush on.

Playing Luca in The Baby-Sitters Club is far from the most nuanced role in Christian Oliver's filmography, but it did mark an important stepping-stone in his career. It's a role that's also a little problematic in retrospect, since Luca is 17 and Stacey only 13, though this wasn't uncommon in teen movies in the early 1990s (and, since the movie is aimed at younger viewers, the most contact they have is a brief kiss as Luca departs back for Switzerland).

6 Saved By The Bell: The New Class (1993-2000)

Christian oliver played brian keller.

Christian Oliver in Saved By The Bell The New Class

Saved By The Bell defined sitcoms aimed at younger viewers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the spinoff Saved By The Bell: The New Class proving to be just as popular as its parent show. Christian Oliver appeared in several season 2 episodes in 1994 as Brian Keller. The role was very similar to that of Luca in The Baby-Sitters Club, as both characters were exchange students from Switzerland that found themselves the subject of a young girls' crush.

Much of what made Christian Oliver's performance as Luca a memorable point in his early career can also be said of Brian Keller. However, as Brian he got more opportunities to showcase his talents, especially when it came to comedy. A particular episode of note in Saved By The Bell: The New Class was season 2's "Brian's Girlfriend", which saw his character inadvertantly gain the unwanted affections of his tennis coach.

5 House Of Good And Evil (2013)

Christian oliver plays chris conley.

Christian Oliver in The House of Good and Evil

By the 2010s, Christian Oliver had a career that saw him expand far beyond playing perpetually-bemused exchange students from Switzerland. However, he hadn't yet had many opportunities to take a starring role in a feature-film outside releases in his native Germany. One of his first opportunities came in the 2013 psychological thriller House of Good and Evil, from director David Mun.

While the movie itself received middling reviews, Oliver's performance in it showcased his suitability for heavier roles than that of Brian Keller in Saved By The Bell: The New Class and Luca in The Baby-Sitter's Club. Oliver starred alongside Rachel Marie Lewis, with the pair playing Maggie and Chris Conley, respectively. It was definitely a role that showcased Christian Oliver's ability to play a chilling antagonist, as the movie opens with Maggie having a miscarriage after Chris physically assaults her , and his sinister presence in her life only spirals further into a nightmare as House of Good and Evil continues.

4 The Good German (2006)

Christian oliver plays emil brandt.

The Good German

Steven Soderbergh's 2006 noir thriller The Good German is based on the book of the same name by Joseph Kanon, and is a celebration of the black-and-white era of Hollywood. It also marks one of the best Christian Oliver movies, and he plays an essential character in the plot — Emil Brandt, the former SS officer that's being ruthlessly hunted down by the likes of George Clooney's Captain Geismer and Tobey Maguire's Corporal Tully.

While Christian Oliver doesn't have as much screen time in The Good German as his A-List cast members (which also include Cate Blanchett as Emil's wife, Lena Brandt), his character underpins the entire plot. He has some especially poignant scenes at the end of the film, which include negotiating with war crimes investigators to secure a visa for his Jewish wife so that she can finally leave Germany. While not the most critically acclaimed movie from director Steven Soderbergh , The Good German stands as a career highlight for the late Christian Oliver, and offered a glimpse at his suitability for roles alongside blockbuster regulars like Clooney, Maguire, and Blanchett.

3 Speed Racer (2008)

Christian oliver plays snake oiler.

Speed Racer (2008)

Speed Racer (2008) is a live-action adaptation of the classic anime series Speed Racer. Directed by the Wachowskis, the film stars Emile Hirsch as Speed, a young race car driver aiming to win races with the help of his family and his high-tech car, the Mach 5. The movie features a vibrant visual style and intense racing sequences, with supporting roles from Christina Ricci, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandon.

Much like The Good German, 2008's Speed Racer is a movie that received a luke-warm reception, but that Christian Oliver manages to shine in nevertheless. The sci-fi sports action comedy comes from the sisters behind The Matrix, The Wachowskis, and includes the likes of Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandon in the cast alongside Christian Oliver. It stands out in Oliver's filmography because it allowed him to play a bombastic and larger-than-life antagonist, the racer known as Snake Oiler.

Playing Snake Oiler in Speed Racer allowed Christian Oliver to show how he can step up to the plate and make even minor characters in a movie memorable. His character wears large shades, has a black pompadour, and wears a uniform made entirely from snakeskin. It's a complete departure both from Emil Brandt in The Good German and his earlier roles in The Babysitters Club and Saved By The Bell: The New Class. While Snake Oiler is a minor part, it remains a highlight of Christopher Oliver's career, especially since it shows how underutilized he was in family-friendly movies that required zany antagonists.

2 Hunters (2020)

Christian oliver plays wilhelm zuchs.

Set in 1977 New York, Hunters follows Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman), who is recruited by Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) to join a secret organization of Nazi hunters that work to prevent the formation of the Fourth Reich. The Prime Video original series lasted for two seasons and also starred Lena Olin, Josh Radnor, Jerrika Hinton, Carol Kane, Greg Austin, Tiffany Boone, and Louis Ozawa.

One of Christian Oliver's final TV shows prior to his death was the 2020 Amazon Prime video series Hunters. The conspiracy drama focused on Nazi Hunters tasked with bringing members of the Third Reich who went into hiding to justice following the surrender of Germany at the end of the Second World War. Christian Oliver has an incredibly noteworthy appearance in flashback scenes as the young Wilhelm Zuchs, the chilling Nazi Doctor at Auschwitz known as "The Wolf".

Christian Oliver plays the younger version of a character who, in the TV show's present day, is played by none other than Hollywood legend Al Pacino. This alone shows that it's not a role to be taken lightly, and Oliver more than delivered. The show wouldn't work if audiences didn't understand why Wilhelm Zuchs was one of the most hated and feared former Nazis, and Christian Oliver's performance as The Wolf during the character's time at Auschwitz ensured viewers never doubted for a second that the character's infamy was well-earned.

1 Sense8 (2015)

Christian oliver plays steiner bogdanow.

Created by the Wachowski sisters, Sense8 features an ensemble cast playing eight different people from around the world, who discover that they are suddenly mentally linked with one another and begin experiencing each other's lives and feelings. As the sensates begin to get to know each other, they must face a growing threat to all their lives by using their newfound empathic powers to their advantage.

When it comes to the best Christian Oliver movies and TV shows, his presence as the villain Steiner Bogdanow in the sci-fi series Sense8 stands out as his most notable performance. Teaming up once again with The Wachowski's, who created the show alongside J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 focuses on a group of eight individuals who are psychically linked, and was a hit for Netflix when it arrived in 2015. Christian Oliver played the antagonist Steiner Bodganow, a ruthless thief and cousin of one of the central psychic characters, Wolfgang Bogdanow (Max Riemelt).

Christian Oliver provided an excellent and gripping antagonist in Sense8, made all the better because of Steiner's close links to Wolfgang. He was incredibly gripping throughout, and few of the show's other antagonists managed to be quite as memorable. While Steiner's death at the end of season 1 meant the late actor didn't return for the second batch of episodes, Sense8 remains the best English-language movie or TV show of Christian Oliver 's career.

IMAGES

Elf Christian Movie Review
Movie Review
Elf (2003)
Elf (2003)
Elf (2003) review by That Film Fatale
Elf (2003)

VIDEO

Elf Full Movie Facts & Review In English / Will Ferrell / James Caan
Migration —Christian Movie Review
IF
# 224: KRISTOFFER POLAHA and KEN CARPENTER share about the path from trauma to redemption in the
Elf Full Movie Facts & Review in English / Will Ferrell / James Caan
Sight

COMMENTS

Elf (2003)
ELF is a "feel good" movie with a familiar "Scrooge" played by a father who neglects his family to earn money and the "Tiny Tim" who just happens to be a 6' Elf named "Buddie". It has a wonderful story-line, excellent actors, and reinforces the importance of Christmas Spirit, family, love and spending time with those you love.
Movie Reviews for Families
"Buddy the elf" shows up, wants to live with them and turns their world upside down! Though 30 in human years, he has the simplistic, childlike ways of a five-year-old. . . from another planet! ELF is a humorous Christmas movie meant to take advantage of the market with the likes of THE SANTA CLAUSE, CHRISTMAS STORY, and THE GRINCH.
Elf Christian Movie Review
In this Elf Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children. In fact, this year is the twentieth anniversary of the release of Elf. This is such a Christmas classic that if you are only going to watch one comedy this holiday season, you should make it Elf. Elf Christian Movie Review
Elf
Movie Review. Three decades ago on one of his Christmas Eve stops at a Catholic orphanage, Santa accidentally acquired one of its infant residents when a baby crawled into his toy sack. Upon realizing the slip-up back at the North Pole, Santa and the elves unanimously decide to keep the boy—especially after the elf manager agrees to adopt him.
"Elf"
Read "Elf" - Movie Review - and more of the latest on movies and films from a Christian perspective. ... "Elf" - Movie Review. Holly McClure Movie Reviewer; Updated Aug 03, 2007; Genre: ...
Elf
A baby orphan named Buddy makes his way into Santa's bag of toys one Christmas eve without Santa's knowledge and is carried off to the North Pole. He is raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) and spends his days in Santa's workshop. As he grows much larger than his elf family, it becomes clear that he doesn't fit in, so Santa (Ed Asner) sends him to New York City to find his family. Buddy ...
5 Movies That Give Us a Glimpse of the Gospel
5. Elf (2003) Elf tells the story of Buddy, a human raised by Christmas elves at the North Pole, who travels to New York City to find his biological father. Unfamiliar with the ways of the human ...
When the Cynic Sings: A Decision Not to Miss in the Movie Elf
In the movie, we meet Walter, the hard-as-nails book publisher, distracted husband, and father. Buddy, his long-lost son, who grew up thinking he was an elf, loves a father he's never met ...
Interview with the cast, director, producers and writer of "Elf"
by Chris Monroe Staff Writer. Also see our REVIEW of "Elf". P erhaps due to the "Christmas spirit" and the result of working on a funny, family film, the cast and crew seemed delighted to sit down in New York and discuss their experience of creating the new Christmas entertainment of "Elf".Among those joining the interviews were actors Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Will ...
Movie Review: ELF
New Line Cinema 2003 PG "I'm sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR." Once upon a Christmas Eve, an orphan baby crawled into Santa's bag of gifts and was taken to the North Pole. Raised by Papa Elf, Buddy comes to realize he doesn't fit in with the other elves.…
Elf
Generally Favorable Based on 39 Critic Reviews. 66. 74% Positive 29 Reviews. 21% Mixed 8 Reviews. 5% Negative 2 Reviews. All Reviews; ... Christian Science Monitor ... Elf is by far the most watch Christmas movie. It is funny, festive and entertaining. It is the perfect Christmas movie for all ages.
Elf Movie Review
Parents need to know that Elf is a light-hearted Christmas comedy starring Will Ferrell as a fun-loving human, raised by elves, who makes his way to New York for a holiday adventure. Although there's some potty language and cursing ("pissed," "hell," "damn," etc.) and a few references to bodily functions, it…
"Elf" Review
As directed by Jon Favreau, "Elf" has a "go for it" spirit that is beautifully captured by Will Ferrell. This man seems unafraid to completely surrender himself to a role and seems to have complete faith in everything working out in the end. To Ferrell's credit, he pulls off things with this character that actors before him have failed in doing ...
Elf movie review & film summary (2003)
It took me about 10 seconds of seeing Will Ferrell in the elf costume to realize how very wrong I was. This is one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece. Even the unexpected casting is on the money. James Caan as the elf's biological father.
A Critical Review of Elf
This contrasts with Miracle on 34th Street's unequivocal stand against excessive drinking. Elf's unwillingness to engage in a moral dialogue, despite being about a decidedly moral holiday, is the movie's Achilles heel, as will be addressed later. Like any good copier, Elf borrows from many classic Christmas films.
ELF: A Christmas Tradition
Pre- Iron Man and Post- Swingers/Made, Jon Favreau directed his way into the hearts of all ages with Elf. This film, using each potential tool for success, was a hit and also managed to be critically loved. There are few cinematic ventures that capture the Christmas spirit in such abundance and hit the Holiday target so directly on the nose.
Movieguide
Home | Movieguide | Movie Reviews for Christians | Home ...
Parent reviews for Elf
Parent reviews for Elf
Elf (2003)
Elf (2003) - Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows. ... Metacritic reviews. Elf. 66. Metascore. 39 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com. 83.
Elf
Although I wrote my first Christmas Review for Ruthless in 2006, I did not start writing reviews in earnest until late in 2013. Since then I have written approximately [EDIT] 100 Christmas Movie reviews that include charming classics like the 1951 Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol , and steaming loaves of Fail like Elves and Santa Claus ...
Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas Movie Review
Parents need to know that Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas is an animated merging of the stories of the 2003 hit movie Elf and its Broadway musical subsidiary. Compared to the full-length film, there's significantly less marginal content in this stop-animation version; some comical impacts (Buddy is hit by multiple cars, for instance) and ...
'Men of War' Review: Jordan Goudreau Doc About Venezuela ...
Jordan Goudreau knew he wanted to be in the U.S. Army since he was a kid obsessed with playing "war" and dressing in combat fatigues. The fact that he was Canadian did not dissuade him.
Christian Mingle The Movie
Christian Mingle The Movie
Elf (2003)
A s usual this year, Santa Claus is coming to town, but before he does, so is an innocent, six-foot three-inch tall, wide-eyed, loveable, pure-as-the-driven-snow Santa helper, whose gift is not a sleigh full of material goods but what people need even more this season: a dose of Christmas spirit. "Elf" delivers a fair amount of holiday cheer, along with a host of homages to tales from ...
10 Most Forgettable Movies of The Last 10 Years, Ranked
Featuring the voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, Disney Pixar's 2020 release Onward is a tale of family, love, grief, and adventure. Onward follows elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot as ...
'The Luckiest Man in America' Review: Paul Walter ...
But when the second round of spinning rolls around, Michael just keeps winning. And winning. And winning. Even as he breaks the show's prize money record with a winning streak that's almost ...
Christian Oliver: 10 Best Movies And TV Shows
For the same reasons that Christian Oliver deserves recognition and respect for his appearance in Valkyrie, his voice-acting in 2023's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny also warrants a mention when looking at the best movies and TV shows of his career.Oliver doesn't play any named characters in the latest Indiana Jones movie, but his contributions ensured that the soundscape of the scenes ...

Christmas Spirit is Believing Without Seeing

Elf Christian Movie Review

My Synopsis:

Elf Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know

Spiritual Content:

Adult Content:

Other Content:

Positive Content:

Teachable Moments with Elf:

Christian Movie Review of Elf – My Viewing Recommendations

About the Elf Movie:

The Cast of Elf:

Voice Cast:

Elf Christian Movie Review – Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Elf streaming on Disney+?

Is Elf streaming on Peacock?

How much did it cost to produce Elf?

How does Buddy get from the North Pole to New York City?

What are the four main food groups for Buddy the Elf?

Is Elf suitable for a 7-year-old?

Was Elf filmed in NYC?

Who Sings the Songs in Elf?

Other Christmas Films Worth Watching:

Related Posts

Teaching with Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

Content Caution

In Theaters

Home Release Date

Distributor

Movie Review

Positive Elements

Spiritual Elements

Sexual & Romantic Content

Violent Content

Crude or Profane Language

Drug & Alcohol Content

Other Noteworthy Elements

Bob Waliszewski

The Front Room

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

Want to stay Plugged In?

Get news & reviews in your inbox

Dove Review

Dove Rating Details

More Information

Faith Film Producer DeVon Franklin Steps in Front of the Camera for ‘Jesus Revolution’

Cyrano: Love is a Verb

Redeeming Love: Grace Rising Up Out of the Dirt

Filmmakers Highlight the Hope and Heroism in “Gi...

When the Cynic Sings: A Decision Not to Miss in the Movie Elf

A New Tradition Brings Laughter, Light, and Life

Like Walter, We All Face a Decision

A Moment in Elf that Changes Everything

Recently On Christmas and Advent

Editor's Picks

Popular Today

Confessions Of A Christian Freak

Movie Review: ELF

Share this:

Roger Ebert

Directed by

Leave a comment

We Live in Time

Look Into My Eyes

The Front Room

Matt and Mara

The Thicket

The Mother of All Lies

The Paragon

My First Film

Don’t Turn Out the Lights

I’ll Be Right There

The Greatest of All Time

TIFF 2024: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Sharp Corner, The Quiet Ones

TIFF 2024: Dahomey, Bird, Oh Canada

TIFF 2024: The Cut, The Luckiest Man in America, Nutcrackers

The Telluride Tea: My Diary of the 2024 Telluride Film Festival

Jason R. Koepke