Colby Sherwin, Sports Editor
With the Christmas season, there comes many heartwarming movies. At the top of the best Christmas movie list is 2003’s “Elf,” in my opinion. With an 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the story of Buddy the Elf leaving the North Pole and going to New York to find his real dad is a classic.
The movie’s opening weekend made $173.4 million in North America alone, according to BoxofficeMojo.com. The movie even got an animated sequel in 2014, with “Elf Buddy’s Musical Christmas.” It also was turned into a Broadway show.
The role of Buddy was not originally going to Will Ferrell, but it was turned down by Jim Carrey so that he could focus on his part in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” according to the Washington Post.
Ferrell plays the part of Buddy so well that you can see him put his full effort into the role. It really works, especially with the scene of him in the mailroom of his dad’s workplace playing with the mail tubes, and him tasting “the world’s best coffee” for the first time.
“Elf” is incredibly quotable with classic lines from the movie that viewers will remember forever, including “You sit on a throne of lies!” Also notable is when Buddy says “Son of a nutcracker!” when he gets hit in the head with a snowball. The best one, in my opinion, is, “I am a cotton-headed ninny-muggins!” This is said when Buddy messes up while making toys at the North Pole.
Ferrell’s performance is remembered by those who grew up with this movie.
Junior Andrew Corral said, “It’s a really funny and great Christmas movie with Will Ferrell, and I love it.”
The movie is also well-made: for instance, the many tricks to get the people to look like tiny elves. They also had every set in the North Pole made in two different sizes, one with all huge items, so that by comparison to Buddy the elves look small. After that, they made the set with tiny objects so Buddy looks huge and out of place.
When looking at the all-time best Christmas movies ever made, you have to look at “Elf”and its film techniques, along with the best characters, lines and songs. If you are looking for a good watch this Christmas season, “Elf” should be your first choice.