You want solely take a look at a handful of Will Ferrell’s funniest films to see that he isn’t precisely recognized for his subtlety. From his time on Saturday Evening Dwell to creating Ron Burgundy a family identify in Anchorman to his most up-to-date venture on the 2025 film calendar, You’re Cordially Invited, Ferrell has made a profession of pushing his characters excessive. He could have gone too far in some followers’ eyes, although, when he was seen drinking and smoking in his Buddy the Elf costume at an NHL recreation. Ferrell talked about going viral for that stunt and the backlash he received from it.
Certainly one of Will Ferrell’s finest characters is definitely the titular wannabe North Pole-dweller Buddy in 2003’s Elf, which itself is among the finest films of the 2000s, to not point out one of many best Christmas flicks ever. So, many followers have been delighted — if not a bit shocked — to see him reprise the character whereas attending an L.A. Kings-Philadelphia Flyers hockey recreation in December. His grumpy tackle the elf with a sometimes inexhaustible quantity of Christmas cheer didn’t impress some followers, as Ferrell advised Individuals:
Some individuals weren’t too pleased, although. They thought, ‘Please be true to the character. That was not cool.’
It does seem to be a stretch for the elf — who, let’s keep in mind, was the inspiration behind getting New York Metropolis’s moodiest residents concerned in group caroling to be able to save Christmas — would let himself go to such a level (that positively didn’t appear like syrup in his glass). Will Ferrell beforehand mentioned his resolution to decorate up as unhappy Buddy, suggesting possibly he lastly received sacked from the North Pole (a idea I am strongly against). Both method, Ferrell continued:
Buddy was having a foul day. Yeah. He simply went to a hockey recreation, smoked cigarettes and drank beer.
We’ve all been there, proper? Perhaps not particularly at a hockey recreation, however I suppose even the seemingly ever-cheerful Buddy the Elf must be allowed to have a down day. And let’s be actual: Seeing Will Ferrell sporting a sweet cigarette in his mouth is not any extra dangerous to our youngsters than watching him pop chewed gum off of NYC’s subway railing and into his mouth.
I do perceive individuals’s issues, although, as a result of I think about it might be disheartening for kids to see Buddy the Elf in such a light-weight, even when they perceive Elf is only a film. Hopefully no long-term trauma will come to the youngsters in attendance at that hockey recreation, in contrast to these youngsters from the film, who have been seemingly by no means the identical:
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It seems to be like the children (each within the film and on the Kings recreation) received an early lesson within the saying “By no means meet your heroes.” I do should marvel if Will Ferrell will presumably assume twice earlier than risking certainly one of his characters’ reputations like that once more, however I’d say in all probability not.
If you wish to re-experience Buddy the Elf as director Jon Favreau meant, Elf is obtainable to hire with an Amazon Prime subscription or different rental service.