When I was in elementary school, the best part of Christmas was the school holiday parties. The entire class would gather on the cozy rug, settle down with a cup of Swiss Miss, and watch a movie. In one of my favorite Christmas movies from my childhood, director John Favreau encapsulates the youthful spirit of Christmas in his 2003 film: Elf.

Elf follows the journey of Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell). One day, Buddy discovers that he is a human who was adopted by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) as a baby. Buddy ventures to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). In New York, Buddy faces the harsh realities of the human world while trying to form a connection with his father.

As Elf celebrates its twentieth anniversary, it remains a modern classic. Elf is the perfect nostalgic holiday movie to watch with your family, which is why I give it four and a half stars. I suggest you treat yourself this holiday season and watch Elf.