Elf (2003)

There is a list of movies that my family and I tend to hit every year for Christmas. At least every other year, anyway. “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Christmas Story,” and “Home Alone” are all up there. One that is there because of my kids is 2003’s Elf. I would not have it as a frequent viewing. It is more in the “every few years category” alongside the likes of 1984’s “Christmas Carol” and “While You were Sleeping.”

The reason I am not as keen on Elf is that it is more like three movies, and they are uneven. The first part is a slightly bizarre, live-action, Rankin Bass-style movie. As a child of the 70s and 80s, you might remember those TV specials as well, special. Revisiting them, however, you realize they are pretty bad. Elf’s first third is better than any of those. Then you move to a middle section where it is the story of an innocent clasjing with the modern, fallen world. I can mostly get behind those sorts of stories. I like “Forrest Gump,” for example. By the time you get to the end, though, I am checked out. It becomes one of those “the Christmas spirit and message is going to magically change everyone for the better” stories. Only, the real Christmas message is nowhere to be found. Just a nebulous, “Be Kind, Because…” story.

You even get the ever more common, “Christmas and Santa derive their power from the fact that people believe” idea. Animistic ideas really. The real Christmas story is, at once, more astounding, impactful, and powerful.

The gospel story is not something that WORKS BECAUSE people BELIEVE in it. It is something one BELIEVES BECAUSE it WORKS. People today like to point out that faith is all about believing without proof, but Christian faith is based completely on proof. The proof of the whole world being changed. Millions upon millions of lives and cultures and history are all impacted by the birth of God becoming Man.

It is fun to have silly stories around this time of year. In their own way, they all do trace their ideas back to that birth, however distant. That birth, though, should not be lost in the bustle. It IS the story more amazing than any other. It doesn’t stop at “be kind.” It tells us that we are not alone. We have purpose. We have a Creator who loves us. We can join Him in making the world better through true, sacrificial love. We can endure the consequences of a world full of sinful people and sinful actions knowing that God has a plan. Christmas has changed the world. It is a pivotal moment in history that makes everything different.

In Elf, things are changed when a kid reads out Santa’s book of the list of gifts kids have asked for. I think a more poerful moment comes in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special when Linus recites Luke 2:8-14.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Let’s get back to repeating that story every year and all year!