Summaries

Elf (2003)

Film and Plot Synopsis

In Elf, Buddy was an orphan who wound up in Santa’s sack, and made it all the way back to the North Pole with him. Santa’s elves took him in, and raised him as one of their own. Once grown, Buddy was to large to remain with them all up north. Santa lets him to go to New York City where he sets out to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Unfortunately, Hobbs is on Santa’s naughty list because he’s a heartless prick. He doesn’t even have any idea that Buddy is alive or his kid. Once in the Big Apple, Buddy experiences the town through the eyes of an elf which causes problems. In time, Walter’s relationship with Buddy causes him to reevaluate his life and his life’s priorities.

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‘Elf’ Movie Summary

The summary below contains spoilers.
Elf (2003)Elf begins on Christmas Eve with Santa making his rounds. A baby in an orphanage crawls out of his crib and into Santa’s bag. When the hitchhiker is discovered at the North Pole, Papa Elf raises the little one as an Elf and names him Buddy. But the growing boy just doesn’t fit in because of his size and lack of elfish talent.

As Buddy (Will Farrel) develops into a discouraged man, Papa Elf decides that it is time to tell Buddy the truth about where he came from. Buddy learns for the first time of his deceased Mother and living Father that is on the naughty list. Buddy sets off through the candy cane forest to New York City to find his family.

In the Big City, Buddy is able to track down his Father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan) who never knew he existed and is not happy to meet this quirky man that eagerly calls him Dad.

Walter has a patient wife (Mary Steenbergen) and a son named Michael that come to accept Buddy as part of their family and force Walter to attempt a relationship with his long-lost son.

Buddy enthusiastically tours the city where he finds the world’s best cup of coffee. He lands a job at a department store where he meets and falls for Jovie (Zooey Deschaenel), who is working as an elf. Buddy loses this job when he calls out the fake and intoxicated store Santa and they get into a huge brawl.

Walter gives Buddy a job at his company where Buddy causes havoc for Walter and they have a falling out. Walter does not care about the quality of his books and only cares about making money. Buddy disrupts an important meeting between Walter and Miles Finch, a successful author who happens to be height challenged. Walter is infuriated and tells Buddy to get out of his life.

Buddy is hurt and runs away. As he roams the streets of NYC on Christmas Eve, he sees Santa and his team in distress in Central Park. Buddy tries to help Santa fix his sleigh but it won’t run because there isn’t enough Christmas spirit.

Jovie remembers Buddy telling her “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear.” Jovie begins singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and as others on the street and watching live news reports on television and even Walter join in, the sleigh begins to run. Santa’s job is saved!

Papa Elf updates the audience with the rest of the story. Buddy and Jovie marry and visit the North Pole with their “little one” and Walter is rehabilitated and founds his own successful publishing company. His first book is Buddy’s story. Everyone lives happily ever after and has a merry Christmas.

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New Line Cinema released Elf to theaters on November 7, 2003. Jon Favreau directs the film which stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Bob Newhart.

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