Elf boasts all the hallmarks of the ultimate holiday movie: Santa is involved, Christmas mythology is explained, and a big-hearted true believer (Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell) shows the world the true meaning of Christmas. Along the way, Buddy discovers that he isn't really an elf at all, but a human being. He explores this side of himself by galivanting around New York City with Jovie, a sardonic department store employee forced to dress like an elf, upon whom he develops a huge crush. The role allows Zooey Deschanel to show off her singing chops, belting out the female part of the old Christmas duet, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," while she's alone in the department store's locker room, early in the morning.
Well ... she thinks she's alone. Buddy is such an aficionado of Christmas culture that when he hears her singing the song, he sneaks into the showers and hangs out just outside where Jovie is naked, singing the male part of the song quietly to himself. Appropriately enough, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is often criticized for its coercive tone, and when Jovie discovers she's not alone in what she thought was a safe environment, she's rightfully freaked out — but only a little. With society recently waking up to sexism and sexual harassment, particularly in the workplace via the #MeToo movement, Buddy's behavior can no longer be considered cute or acceptable.
