What makes a holiday film an enduring classic? The Hallmark channel is working overtime this time of year to figure out that formula, but it is very rare that a new Christmas movie becomes a classic. What if someone made a movie where the hero was the very epitome of light coming into the darkness of the world? What if he personified light and in him were no darkness at all? What if his very presence changed the lives of everyone around him? Maybe “Elf” became an instant classic becomes it so beautifully pointed back the one we are supposed to celebrating.

• IMDB 6.9

• Rotten Tomatoes 83%/78%

• (PG)