|
One Christmas Eve, in an orphanage, as Santa Clause distributes his gifts, a baby boy, unnoticed,
crawls into his bag and gets transported to the North Pole. Adopted and raised with affection by elves, the boy Buddy (Will Ferrell) grows into a six-footer and though
thinking himself as elf, he realizes later he is born of human parents. He takes leave of his loving, adoptive family and seeks his biological father in New York City.
The father Walter (James Caan), a hardboiled book publisher facing a business crisis, is shocked to know he has a son out of wedlock who is sort of weird. Nevertheless, he
takes Buddy home to his family. Unfamiliar with the customs and attitudes in human society, Buddy gets involved in situations, at times embarrassing but often hilarious.
Viewers may readily recognize this film as a simple, creative variation of the Tarzan
raised-by-the-Apes story; nevertheless, it turns out to be a heartwarming Christmas comedy. This is mostly due to the naïve, good-natured and lovable character of Buddy who
generates a lot of good cheer and humor. One can almost predict the scrapes he would get into because of his innocence and ignorance of the ways of men, but a few sub-plots
give the story some texture. The casting of the lead characters is felicitous (i.e. Will Ferrell as Buddy, James Caan as Walter, the human father, Bob Newhart as Papa Elf,
Edmund Azner as Santa Claus, Mary Strenburger as Emily, Buddy's step mother). Their acting is more than adequate. The special effects are not overwhelming but enough
to amaze and put a glow in the eyes of children.
This film has reputedly already earned $100 million at the tills. Moreover not only a few
think it could become a Christmas classic. Probably it is because this film has a heart. It is a reminder of the significance of the holy season. Many of us go
through the mechanical motions of celebrating Christmas but we no longer feel the meaning of Christmas in our hearts. As Santa Claus says, his sled can no longer rise above
the earth and glide among the stars to bring its blessings to the expectant world because there is no Christmas spirit to propel it on its yuletide journey of
gift-giving. There has to be faith; there is a need to believe, a call to change, to be kinder, more understanding, more attentive to the needs of others. Only then can
we truly experience the blessings of Christmas. In the film, the change of heart of Walter the father brings him not only a reversal of fortune but also love and joy in the
midst of his family.
(Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003)
|
