People are always looking for a new Christmas classic to keep the spirit of the season alive. But with all of the attempts at making a new holiday favorite every year, only the best rise above the rest to gain the title of “classic.” Once Will Ferrell put on yellow tights and a green hat to star in the Jon Favreau-directed Elf (which is a part of the Warner Bros. Holiday Gift Guide), it was clear that we had one.
The tale of a human (Ferrell) that was raised as an elf reconnecting with his Scrooge-like father (James Caan), gaining acceptance, and finding his place in the world is full of laughs and hits a sweet spot that makes it the kind of family-friendly film that everyone can genuinely enjoy.
To get ready for the holiday season, let’s take a look back at Buddy the Elf’s hilariously awkward moments.
“I’ll be okay. I just need a glass of water…”
Whether it was when you got too big for that twin-sized bed you grew up in, realized you were officially too old to be “cool” or sat down at the wrong lunch table, we’ve all felt like we didn’t belong at one point or another. Although Buddy never took the time to realize that showers are actually meant to wash everything above the knees, too, he eventually found out why he didn’t really belong in the North Pole.
“Does someone need a hug?”
While Buddy’s failed attempt at greeting the first New Yorker he met – a raccoon – didn’t go well, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a couple lessons from him. 1) Be willing to meet new people with open arms. 2) Don’t hug the wildlife.
Note: To be fair, Buddy had talking penguins and anthropomorphic snowmen with southern drawls as neighbors most of his life. So, he had to eventually learn the same can’t be said everywhere else. At least he didn’t come across a bear first.
“World’s best cup of coffee! Great job everybody!”
When he first got to New York City, Buddy was a tourist just like a lot of the other people you’ll see. Instead of pointing at buildings and taking way too long to get places, he had more noticeable tells. Like eating the gum off a subway station railing, taking boastful advertisements as truth, mistaking everyone with a beard and red suit for Santa, and not knowing how sidewalks work.
“I love you! I love you! I LOVE YOU!!!”
Meeting new people can be a really intimidating experience; especially if that person is your long-lost father who’s been known to take books away from poor nuns and children. If you find yourself in a similar situation, take a play from Buddy’s book and sing a song to make things just as awkward for everyone else and hope for the best.
“There’s a horrible noise coming from the evil box under the window!”
If you’re not careful, technology can get ahead of you and you’ll be stuck in a never-ending game of catch-up. Apparently the North Pole is really low-maintenance because Buddy never heard of escalators or radiators. But the good news is we got to see his first encounter with both and they’re each priceless. Kudos to Ferrell’s flexibility on that escalator, by the way.
“You sit on a throne of lies…”
Back when I was a kid, I was told that all of the people dressed up as Santa Claus in malls across the country were his helpers and they’d tell the real guy what everybody wanted. Buddy apparently never got that talk. So, when he saw someone else dressed up as St. Nick – other than that random stranger on the street from earlier – things escalated pretty quickly. To be fair, not-Santa also had a pretty short temper (and some experience as a professional wrestler).
“Baby, it’s cooold outsiiiide!!”
Everyone thinks their singing sounds better in the shower. But when you suddenly harmonize and become part of a surprise duet, you have two options: 1) You can freak out, realize it’s just your roommate brushing their teeth and figure out what the name of your new YouTube channel will be, or 2) you can freak out, grab a soapy loofa and prepare to blind whoever it is.
“I didn’t know you had elves working here! […] He’s an angry elf.”
Poor Buddy didn’t know anything about political correctness, so when he stormed into his dad’s meeting to announce his newfound love, he couldn’t help but incorrectly assume one of Santa’s elves had migrated south and used his in-depth knowledge to become a titan in the children’s publishing world.
We all wanted to see what would happen if he kept going with the elf jokes, and it was well worth it. Consider this scene Peter Dinklage’s audition for Game of Thrones as he ran across the boardroom table and delivered a devastating dropkick. Why? Because a Lannister always pays his debts and Buddy was owed an ass whooping.
Hope you enjoyed our look back at Elf. Our friends at Warner Bros. asked us to remind readers that Elf is available for purchase here.
