Elf Review

Review of Elf (2003) by screenqueeen: 👎 2.5/5

In revisiting this I was worried that I'd find Buddy's insufferable nature a tired crutch but it was more muted than my memory projected. I instead find the family dynamic the most problematic as Walter is severely underwritten and makes a brash decision based in what, exactly?

It's missing a satirical edge that the movie would be well suited for in its surface-level fish out of water device and as a juxtaposition of the Rankin & Bass-style world of the North Pole set against New York City. It's also probable that it was creatively neutered since the story's conception likely took place before 9/11, and in filming a lot of the cynical elements could have been excised in a safe bet made by studio execs.

The result feels like a film along the lines of that brand of satire in the first act that unfortunately devolves into Hallmark-brand mush of the True Meaning of Christmas and all that hornswoggle.