Elf

Stream on Disney+, Max, and Hulu

Runtime: 1 hour and 37 Minutes

Rated PG

Growing up as an Elf in the North Pole is hard, especially when you are grown human man size. Buddy never felt that he really fit in with Santa’s Elves. He couldn’t make toys as fast as an Elf and his size made everything more difficult when your whole world is build for small Elves. Eventually the truth comes out that Buddy is, in fact, not an Elf and he snuck into Santa’s bag as a baby. When Buddy finds out his father is in New York he sets off to reunite with a grumpy, workaholic father who doesn’t know he exists…..and doesn’t have any Christmas spirit.

Themes: "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

Christmas, Santa, Elves, fatherhood, orphans, adoption, Christmas spirit, being different, sitting on a throne of lies, fake Santas, family, brothers, step families, anger, the best way to spread Christmas cheer (you can finish it), smiling, decorating for Christmas, New York City, admitting when you are wrong, love, and the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and SYRUP!

Language: “Son of a nutcracker!”

D*mn - 1 Hell - 2 Religious Exclamations - 3

Freaking - 1 Heck - 1 Pissed - 1 Sucked - 1 Up Yours - 1

Son of a Nutcracker - 1

Name calling such as, “cotton headed ninny muggins.”

Stuff to be aware of: "What about Santa's cookies? I suppose parents eat those too?"

Sexual - There is a joke made about a “peep show” sign Buddy comes in contact with. There is a scene with a girl in the shower. Only her bare shoulders and legs are seen. Buddy pulls his pants down in one scene, but nothing is shown. There is a statement about how a person gets, “more action than you.”

Scary - A character gets attacked by a raccoon. This is comical, but could be scary for younger audiences.

Other - There is an accident in which liquor gets poured in a drink.

Overall: "You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card."

I imagine many families with children have watched this one through the years, and all though there are some sexual jokes and a couple of curse words it is very tame. I imagine this one is one you watch every year or you don’t care for it. If you have a distaste for Will Ferrell you should probably avoid this one, however for many (Like my mother-in-law and sister-in-law) this is a movie that will always bring smiles…. “I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite.”