“I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite,” main character Buddy says in one of the most popular holiday movies. “Elf” (2003) stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf. This holiday film is a tale of a sugar-loving, always happy elf searching for belonging.

Buddy leaves his home, the North Pole, to seek his dad who lives in New York. He undergoes a whirlwind of adventures and meets meaningful people along the way. People enjoy this movie due to Buddy finding these people, which includes Michael, his step brother and Jovie, his girlfriend.

Throughout the movie, Buddy sticks out like a sore thumb. He still chooses to dress in his elf attire and basically only ever thinks of maple syrup and Santa.

Viewers love “Elf” so much because it is perfect for the whole family. It has a happy ending, which most kids enjoy. For me, that’s just one of the reasons why I enjoy watching this movie. “Elf” has always been a movie that my family and I watch every year together, no matter what. It’s a tradition for not only my family, but for many other families too. “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear,” Buddy said.

I would recommend “Elf” for ages seven and up. It contains some vulgar language and violence, but the movie as a whole is very family-friendly. Elf also includes a  conversation referencing the credibility of Santa Claus, but no clear or real statement was made.

Even though the holiday season is the most hectic time of the year, families still make time to sit down together and watch this movie. So grab a friend, heat up a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this holiday classic together.