Laura Gatannah

My 8-year-old did not want to go see this movie. But we don't have Apple+ and I wanted to see it, so we made it a family outing. By the end, my kid wouldn't even take a potty break because he was really enjoying it. The songs are earworms, and the choreography is fun. Really some cool stuff going on with the flashlights and pogo sticks... there is just a lot going on, and I'm sure if I saw it again I'd catch even more. Um, newsflash: This is a musical. And the definition of a musical is that the plot is forwarded IN SONG. So, like, yeah, there was some singing in "Elf," but that was just Christmas music in a movie. This is a full-on musical; how do you even try to watch something you hate and then have the nerve to leave a review that you hate the genre ergo you hate the movie? Meh. Ryan Reynolds can carry a tune, Will Ferrell is a bit more skilled singer... but what surprised me is how pure and delightful Octavia Spencer's voice is! If you're looking for something to put you into the holiday spirit, this will do the trick. Lots of thought-provoking social commentary, but wrapped up with such a pretty bow, it doesn't feel heavy-handed. And it's obvious everyone is having fun.