Elf, the classic Christmas movie, was just released on Blu-Ray.
When it comes to the movie Elf, most people don’t have to look beyond the cover to get a chuckle. After all, the cover is nothing more than Will Ferrell, a full grown man, donning an ornately gaudy, bright green elf outfit, complete with yellow tights and curly-toed shoes.
That ridiculous image is enough to intrigue most Will Ferrell followers, but Elf manages to move beyond that initial joke to bring viewers along for a tale that is a humorous and heartwarming holiday treat.
The story follows Buddy, an orphan who accidentally climbs into the toy bag that Santa (Ed Asner) leaves unattended while distributing gifts at the orphanage. When Santa returns to the North Pole and Buddy is discovered, it is decided that Buddy will stay in the North Pole and be raised by a lonely old elf (Bob Newhart).
Buddy’s time among the elves is a bit difficult. Not only is he twice as big as his surroundings, but he simply does not have an affinity for toy making, which, unfortunately for Buddy, is the only option for elves in the North Pole. Despite his adoptive father’s best attempts, Buddy just can’t cut it and decides to go in search of his biological father in an attempt to figure out who he really is.
With the well wishes of his adoptive father and Santa, Buddy embarks on his journey, which lands him in New York City, where his father (James Caan) works.
Herein lies the heart of the story. The crux of the story is how Buddy, through his child-like elf-ish-ness, revitalizes the people he interacts with. From his father, to his father’s family, to his coworker and love interest, Buddy helps restore their faith in the innate joy of the holiday season. At the same time, Buddy discovers what talents he does possess, which restores his faith in himself. The end is a spectacle of improbable circumstances where Buddy not only aids Santa but softens his father’s hardened heart, leading to an expected but still sweet happily ever after for all involved.
Elf is without question a feel good Christmas movie but fans of Ferrell will still appreciate this family friendly flick, which is full of enough quirkiness to entertain adults and children alike. Despite the somewhat cliched storyline, Elf delivers with quirky performances, playing into the Christmas movie genre with no apologies, which makes it a carefree way to spend a few hours this holiday season.
The blu-ray edition is schedule to be released on October 28, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
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