Pre-Screening Sips
- We’re back to a movie that holds a firm place on the seasonal viewing calendar
- I would argue this is the most recent Christmas movie deemed a classic for the general Christmas movie-watching population
- I appreciate circling back to this movie and thinking about the insane journey Jon Favreau has had in Hollywood
Post-Screening Snippets
- The early sequence that overtures the story of the elves features, and I kid you not, one of the most unnerving depictions of a troll I’ve ever seen
- Thank you, Christmas Countdown, for finally making me realize that the elf costumes are replicas of the costumes in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- “But the children love the books!” is my favorite line by far
- I am ready for a sequel that features 400% more time with the adorable clay animals
- Amy Sedaris is a national treasure – please watch her excellent reactions throughout this film
- I know he probably has a lot of seasonal help, but how the heck does the Gimbels manager not realize Buddy isn’t one of his actual employees?
- The only part of Elf that gets me down is how it makes me think I too can make amazing, hand-crafted decorations and create a crafty North Pole paradise, only to realize I get tired after wrapping two gifts
- Replace the Coke with Coke Zero when Buddy gulps down an entire two-liter at the table and you have me at every meal #fitnessismypassion
- Truth be told, if Buddy is not on screen, the movie slows way down
- The big climax for Hobbs, where he leaves his pitch to go find Buddy is sweet, but also a creative pitch is pretty short and he probably could have knocked it out in a few minutes – time management, people
- Charlotte Dennon, New York 1 vs. the anchorman is the most underappreciated nonsense in the movie
The Final Hot Chocolate
I mean, you’ve seen Elf. It’s as sweet as Buddy’s food pyramid! Will Ferrell whimsically captures the childlike wonder of Christmas in his performance, a feeling that radiates through the screen with each viewing.
GRADE: B+
BRECKFLIX 