Man dresses as Buddy the Elf to meet dad for first time – but he doesn’t get joke

Doug Henning, 43, admitted his dad ‘probably thought he was a lunatic’ during their first meeting (Picture: @finnandboonthego)

A man dressed up as Buddy from Elf to meet his biological father for the first time – but he didn’t get the joke.

Doug Henning, 43, said his father ‘probably thought he was a lunatic’ after he wore a costume matching Will Ferrell’s character’s outfit in the 2003 film.

As his father Raul walked out of the airport, Doug sang: ‘I was adopted, but you never knew I was born.

‘And now you found me, and you’re here, and guess what: I love you, I love you, I love you!’

Elf tells the tale of Buddy, a human who was adopted and raised by Santa’s elves and heads to New York City to meet his biological father while spreading Christmas cheer.

Raul was left baffled as he had never seen the film, Boston.com reports. Nonetheless, he hugged Doug and said: ‘Oh my son, my boy.’

Doug sang ‘I was adopted, but you never knew I was born’ to his dad (Picture: @finnandboonthego)

Raul had never seen Elf so didn’t get the joke (Picture: @finnandboonthego)

The dad hugged his son and said ‘Oh my son, my boy’ when they met (Picture: @finnandboonthego)

The pair went home and watched Elf together (Picture: @finnandboonthego)

Doug was inspired to stage the stunt after seeing the movie two days before the big meeting.

He said: ‘It was a really good way to break the ice. We ultimately sat down as a family and watched the movie.’

Before Raul flew in to Eliot, Maine, for thanksgiving, the pair had just spoken on Zoom.

Raul never knew Doug was born – but Doug had tracked his father down in March after a cousin helped him connect with one of his sisters. 

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