Obama praised the film’s combination of warmth and humor, saying it hits emotional notes that still resonate decades after release. The mix of innocent charm and laugh-out-loud scenes is why she leans on it when she wants to “feel better.”
Will Ferrell reflected that Elf required significant rewrites and helped push his move away from Saturday Night Live. He admitted early doubts — fearing the movie could flop — but said they ultimately found the heart of Buddy through a sense of wonder and naiveté that clicked with audiences.