Or Will Ferrell In Tights.
You can never tell what will become a Christmas classic and what will drift from memory. It’s A Wonderful Life was a flop on release but gained its reputation on television syndication. The updated Miracle on 34th Street is lovely but doesn’t get the love.
Elf, on the other hand, was Elf from the start. Buddy the Elf is a human raised by elves who travels to New York to find his real father. Buddy is an innocent, child in a man’s body, so having a very grumpy James Caan as a father is a culture shock.
On his way into his new family’s heart, he spreads the Christmas spirit and falls in love with the divine Zooey Deschanel. He is an example to everyone and spreads joy and cheer wherever he goes.
There’s singing, paper craft and the perils of sugar consumption. What more do you need?