Elf is one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time. While it’s one that was released in the past twenty years, it’s secured a spot as a beloved film that many people watch every year around the holidays. While there are many positives about this movie that make it a true classic, there are also some things about it that haven’t aged well. There are moments that make audiences smile as well as some that make them cringe upon a rewatch.
Here are five things from Elf that haven’t aged well, along with five things that are timeless.
TIMELESS: IT CAPTURES THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES
Elf is one of the most beloved Christmas movies ever, and one of the reasons that it’s so successful is how it captures some of the magical elements of the holiday.
As a kid, the thought of things like Santa Claus and presents are so exciting and wonderful. As an adult, it’s hard to get those same feelings again. So, the fact that Elf is able to capture the wonder of the season through Buddy’s innocence makes it really appealing to audiences.
HAVEN’T AGED WELL: BUDDY BREAKS A LOT OF RULES
One of the major issues with the film is how naive Buddy is. While this is sometimes funny and makes for a lot of jokes and gags, sometimes it goes a little too far.
While he was raised in the North Pole, the other elves don’t seem nearly as naive as he is. The fact that he doesn’t even know that you shouldn’t do things like break and enter is a little hard to believe. It definitely takes you out of the movie when he continually breaks laws and seems to have less awareness of what’s acceptable than your average child.
TIMELESS: BEING SET IN NEW YORK CITY IS PERFECT FOR THE SEASON
There are many Christmas movies that are either set in New York City or that mention it. The fact that Elf is set in the city and features so many of the iconic holiday things there makes it easy to feel the holiday spirit.
From the Rockefeller Center tree to Gimbel’s (which is basically a stand-in for the large Macy’s store in Manhattan), watching the film will make you want to enjoy a getaway to NYC where you can experience a truly iconic Christmas season.
HAVEN’T AGED WELL: THE FACT THEY LET BUDDY GO TO NEW YORK BY HIMSELF
It’s made pretty clear in the movie that Buddy isn’t really capable of handling himself as an adult. He doesn’t understand that he shouldn’t eat used gum, thinks that lingerie is a good gift to give your father, and has never been to a city before.
It seems really irresponsible that Papa Elf and the others who know him would let him wander to the city alone. They should have known that he would end up getting himself into trouble because he acts like an extremely young child in many ways.
TIMELESS: THE SWEET RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUDDY AND JOVIE
For much of the movie, Buddy seems to be somewhat naive, but he does mature as the movie goes along.
His relationship with Jovie is a rather sweet one, as it’s definitely based on a pure kind of love. He helps her appreciate things like wonder and magic again, and she helps ground him and provide some stability. It’s a sweet story that is easy to root for, and it adds another layer of sweetness to the movie.
HAVEN’T AGED WELL: BUDDY HAS NO SENSE OF BOUNDARIES
Because Buddy is portrayed as so naive to the societal mores and rules of human society, he often crosses a lot of boundaries.
While some of this seems funny, there are also moments where it goes too far and is hard to believe. He doesn’t really understand how to act around people, and he crosses the boundaries of many people including Jovie, his father, and Miles Finch. Many of these moments make audiences cringe more than laugh.
TIMELESS: BUDDY BECOMING CLOSE TO HIS HALF BROTHER AND STEPMOM
One of the most endearing parts of the film is seeing Buddy reconnect with his family.
While his father takes a while to come around, his stepmother Emily is really caring and welcoming. He also soon begins to bond with his half-brother Michael. His relationships with both of them are really sweet, and it’s great to see him have a family that accepts and loves him.
HAVEN’T AGED WELL: HOW MILES FINCH WAS PORTRAYED
One of the most problematic moments from this movie is how Miles Finch was portrayed. The character was played by Peter Dinklage, who is a person who has dwarfism.
So, the fact the Buddy makes a whole bunch of jokes about the character of Miles being an “elf” is super uncomfortable. This entire thing is set up to make Miles look like the bad guy when really Buddy was being really awful to him.
TIMELESS: CONTAINS MANY GREAT HOLIDAY THEMES
Because Elf is one of the most well-loved Christmas movies ever, it’s not surprising that the movie contains many great holiday themes that people love in these kinds of movies.
There are many endearing themes here such as the importance of family, the magic of believing in something, and the beauty of enjoying the small things in life. These themes make the movie extremely likable.
HAVEN’T AGED WELL: THE SHOWER SCENE WITH JOVIE
Of all the most problematic moments in the movie, this scene is probably the worst. In the movie, Buddy goes into the women’s showers and starts singing along with Jovie while she’s showering.
While he doesn’t actually try to look at her naked, he should be at least able to know that you shouldn’t be around someone while they are showering. The fact he doesn’t know this is a private thing is really strange and messed up.
