MovieChat Forums > Elf (2003) Discussion > One Thing That Bugs Me About 'Elf'

One Thing That Bugs Me About 'Elf'


This is a good movie, but there's one thing that really bothers me. I hate how the movie makes the dad out to be a bad guy because he's a workaholic. Yes, he didn't always pay attention to his family, but when you have a big job like his, that's what happens. The fact that the son called him "selfish" for not wanting to leave his important business meeting to look for Buddy, who had ruined a previous important business meeting is ridiculous.

I just hate this thread of "parents are bad parents because they're attached to their smartphones" theme in movies. It just sits poorly in this currently bad economic era. Sorry kids, but parents have to work; that's how the world works. But that doesn't mean they don't love you.

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It wasn't the only thing that put him on the naughty list. He lacked compassion (as evidenced by his taking the books away from the nun/school/orphanage for non-payment). Also, he's so concerned with the bottom line that he knowingly signed off on an erroneous printing proof just to get the book out, with no regard to how confusing or disappointing it would be for the readers (who would most likely be children).

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Yeah

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