Some people bake to get into the Christmas spirit. Others put up a tree. Others still decorate every available inch of their home with snow men, stuffed Santas, and twinkle lights.
Me? I watch movies. Every December I start anew, watching a stack of my favorites that get me into the holiday spirit. And on every Tuesday and Thursday until we reach December 25th, I will share some suggestions that I hope will get you into the swing of the holidays.
My first choice is a modern Christmas classic: Jon Favreau and Will Ferrell’s Elf. The story of an orphan raised by elves after sneaking into Santa’s sack, Elf is infused with charm and innocence that is rarely seen in any movie, let alone a holiday film. Ferrell plays Buddy with a wide-eyed enthusiasm that reflects my own memories of the potential of Christmas morning: Rushing to a tree stacked with presents. The wonder of time spent with family. The rush of sugar born of candy canes, cookies, and stockings stuffed with sweets.
Elf isn’t about the Christ child. You’re not going to get a whiff of religion in Elf. And you know what? That’s okay. Because this is a movie about what Christmas has become: A holiday about giving, family, food, music, and memories. There are plenty of great movies that recognize the history of Christmas; I will touch on some of those in the coming days. In an era where we have become jaded about the holidays, Elf allows us to view the holiday through the innocent eyes of the childish Will Ferrell.
Director Jon Favreau, better known for helming the Iron Man movie series, fills Elf with the essence of Christmas. Using actors like James Caan, Bob Newhart, and Zooey Deschanel (and the inspired casting of Ed Asner as Santa), Favreau pulls off the rare accomplishment of presenting a movie bereft of the jaded sneer obvious in so many contemporary holiday films.
A treat for kids and adults alike, there is a lot to like in Elf, from the nods to the old claymation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movies to the story of a fatherless child finding his place in the world. Plus if you didn’t already respect Zooey Deschanel for her fearless performance in (500) Days of Summer, you’ll find a new layer to the actress as the personification of the audience: The world-weary worker who just wants to make it through the holidays without any bumps and has forgotten about the wonders of Christmas.
Sweet charm, clean humor, and a wonderful spirit make it easy to recommend Elf to families looking for a treat to kick off the holiday season.
Check back on Thursday for my next holiday recommendation!
Me? I watch movies. Every December I start anew, watching a stack of my favorites that get me into the holiday spirit. And on every Tuesday and Thursday until we reach December 25th, I will share some suggestions that I hope will get you into the swing of the holidays.
My first choice is a modern Christmas classic: Jon Favreau and Will Ferrell’s Elf. The story of an orphan raised by elves after sneaking into Santa’s sack, Elf is infused with charm and innocence that is rarely seen in any movie, let alone a holiday film. Ferrell plays Buddy with a wide-eyed enthusiasm that reflects my own memories of the potential of Christmas morning: Rushing to a tree stacked with presents. The wonder of time spent with family. The rush of sugar born of candy canes, cookies, and stockings stuffed with sweets.
Elf isn’t about the Christ child. You’re not going to get a whiff of religion in Elf. And you know what? That’s okay. Because this is a movie about what Christmas has become: A holiday about giving, family, food, music, and memories. There are plenty of great movies that recognize the history of Christmas; I will touch on some of those in the coming days. In an era where we have become jaded about the holidays, Elf allows us to view the holiday through the innocent eyes of the childish Will Ferrell.
Director Jon Favreau, better known for helming the Iron Man movie series, fills Elf with the essence of Christmas. Using actors like James Caan, Bob Newhart, and Zooey Deschanel (and the inspired casting of Ed Asner as Santa), Favreau pulls off the rare accomplishment of presenting a movie bereft of the jaded sneer obvious in so many contemporary holiday films.
A treat for kids and adults alike, there is a lot to like in Elf, from the nods to the old claymation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movies to the story of a fatherless child finding his place in the world. Plus if you didn’t already respect Zooey Deschanel for her fearless performance in (500) Days of Summer, you’ll find a new layer to the actress as the personification of the audience: The world-weary worker who just wants to make it through the holidays without any bumps and has forgotten about the wonders of Christmas.
Sweet charm, clean humor, and a wonderful spirit make it easy to recommend Elf to families looking for a treat to kick off the holiday season.
Check back on Thursday for my next holiday recommendation!
