Submitted by GimmeGirlFarts t3_zzunua in movies
I watched Elf with my kid on Christmas. Something that really makes that movie work is that Buddy does no wrong, besides ripping off the mall Santa's beard and not listening to directions but it all comes from a place of innocence. Are there any other movie heroes that show no mal intent throughout the runtime? Edit: I forgot Buddy also uses the phrase "cotton headed ninny muggins" in polite company, which is truly despicable.
Maybe Randy Quaids' character in King Pin. It has been a while since I've seen it, but I thought all the shenanigans came from Woody Harrelson.
Love Kingpin and I think you're right! Maybe he drinks and smokes a little after Woody Harrelson introduces him to it but I don't think he does anything mean spirited
In the Back to the Future movies I don’t remember Marty doing anything really wrong and he always seemed to have the best intentions.
In Elf, what about the invasion of privacy while Jovie is in the shower? Unintentional or not, that's not wrong?
[deleted]
Not a bad point. He knows how to shower, we see the flashback when he's realizing he's human. I believe him when he says he didn't know Jovie was naked after she calls him out. Maybe elves don't separate male/female washrooms and privacy isn't a concern? Or that could be a stretch lol
hey look, pal, you need to stop romanticising Buddy! every time, you're all Buddy this, and Buddy that! and I keep telling you: he's nobody's hero.
Wesley in Princess Bride is pretty innocent. I’m not sure if/how he maintained that as Dread Pirate Roberts, but we never see him do anything untoward on screen.
I actually was just chatting with my wife about this the other day. Will Ferrell does a really good job at the innocent shtick. Compare him to a character like Olaf from Frozen who is supposed to also be very innocent (and the character is mostly there) but there’s something that seems a bit off. Elf is a great example of a character that feels genuinely innocent.
Rocky.
Sure, depending on how you interpret it, he does kind of rape Adrian (not in a grotesque way, but maybe to some it disqualifies him being a squeaky-clean hero?), but his intentions are always good and honorable and he is so humble throughout the movie and his goals are never really lofty.
My favorite thing about Will Ferrell is his commitment to being silly/innocent. I really loved the Spartan Cheerleader sketches.
Eh, Marty is prideful and arrogant, always getting baited into conflict. Also he did plan to cheat at sports gambling until Doc found the Almanac.
Jane in Smiley Face was innocent at heart but just keeps making horrible bizarre decisions due to overdosing on marijuana brownies.
Defendor (2009) The Hero we deserve but not needed, too innocent for this Cruel world
Bob from What About Bob? has a somewhat similar arc. He is ultimately good natured but lacks any social awareness. Despite his naivety, his relentless positivity wins everyone over in the end. Except for Dreyfuss of course.
Forrest Gump is probably the biggest (aside from maybe Buddy).
[deleted]
isn't it basically standard fare for all Disney movies?
Yeah... but he also flat gets his friend murdered. So there is that.
Paddington
That was Rocky III. I guess I should have been more clear but since others in this thread were mentioning individual movies I was only referring to the first movie.
Maybe Luke in specifically A New Hope. I feel like the biggest flaw he’s shown to have in that movie is that he’s impatient. Although he does call the Millennium Falcon a piece of junk, which is arguably pretty mean!
I was just being silly, other than the madness that was the Rocky III writing room, I don't think you're wrong. Rocky is kind of meant to be the ultimate down on his luck dude that gets his righteous win, he's not a bad guy at all, even with rough edges.
I would say likely not. But Wall-E and Russell definitely fit.
[deleted] t1_j2dmo4h wrote
[removed]