Will Ferrell reveals why he dressed up as disheveled Buddy the Elf to watch hockey game

Will Ferrell recently surprised fans at the Los Angeles Kings hockey game by showing up in his famous Buddy the Elf costume - but with a twist. 

Instead of the upbeat, smiling Buddy from the 2003 holiday hit Elf, Ferrell’s version was grumpy, dishevelled, and a far cry from his usual cheerful self.

Sitting in the stands at Crypto.com Arena with his wife, Viveca Paulin, and their 14-year-old son, Axel, Ferrell turned heads with his altered take on the character.

Sporting a scowl, he was spotted holding what looked like an unlit cigarette and a beer, a stark contrast to Buddy’s famous line, “Smiling’s my favourite.”

When a FanDuel Sports Network reporter asked Ferrell about his mood, he simply said “It was a tough holiday season” and “he’s looking for a Kings win.”

The L.A. Kings leaned into the moment, posting a video of Ferrell on social media with the caption, “BUDDY THE ELF IS OFFICIALLY IN #HOCKEYWOOD.”

This surprise appearance comes 21 years after the film’s release.

Will Ferrell has often praised the movie’s timeless charm, calling it a “holiday classic” that fans continue to enjoy all year long.

That said, Buddy hasn’t had the best year in Santa’s favour.

Ferrell’s lively performance as Buddy is widely seen as a key to the movie’s success, especially when paired with James Caan, who played Buddy’s father.

Together, they formed an unforgettable duo.

Earlier this year, Ferrell revealed that Caan, who passed away in 2022, didn’t find him particularly funny.

Speaking on the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Ferrell shared that Caan once admitted he just didn’t “get” him.

He said, “James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me.”

He also added, “He’s like, ‘People ask me, ‘Is he funny?’ And I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny!’ It was all with love.”

Here’s what some X users had to say about Will Ferrell’s elf costume at the game.

“Buddy has clearly fallen on hard times,” one user remarked.

Another one chimed in with, “Fantastic, now some parent has to explain this to their kid.”

A third user had a movie idea: “They should make a movie where Buddy has become an angry drunk and hates Christmas.”

“His son gets him back in the Christmas spirit at the end by getting him to sing loud for all to hear. The middle of the movie is just pure comedy of him doing crazy stuff.”