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Fulton Greenway is the main antagonist of the 2003 Christmas comedy film Elf and its 2014 TV animated remake special Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas. He was portrayed by the late Michael Lerner in the film and voiced by the late Gilbert Gottfried in the animated special.
Background[]
Personality[]
Greenway is the arrogant and grumpy Chairman and CEO of Greenway Press. He shows no sympathy to his employees, all of whom fear him (including Walter), and forces them to work on Christmas Eve night. He is also short-tempered and very condescending.
Physical appearance[]
In the 2003 film, Greenway is an overweight man with white hair, who wears a business suit and a bowtie. In the 2014 animated remake, he’s a short man with black hair, since his character was merged with Miles Finch.
Role in the film[]
The original film[]
He first appears in Walter's office with a failed children's book that Walter had published his niece read. After complaining about how awful the book is with two missing pages and a minus 8 (as well as noting the book would still be awful even if the two pages are in there), he firmly demands that Walter finds a new book to publish by December 24 or lose his job. Though it’s Christmas Eve, Greenway shows no feelings towards the holiday. This could imply that he cares little to nothing for the holiday and his family.
After the failed meeting with Miles Finch, Walter angrily sends Buddy off, saying he no longer wants him in his life. During the meeting to discuss new book ideas, Michael bursts in on Walter's meeting with Greenway to frantically tell him that Buddy is gone. After Michael points out that Walter seems to care more about himself than Buddy, Walter asks Greenway to reschedule. Greenway coldly refuses and threatens to fire him if he leaves. However, Walter stands up to him and tells him "up yours" before walking out with Michael. The insult prompts Greenway to angrily fire Walter from his job as he’s walking out of the meeting room.
Afterwards, his comeuppance is remained unknown. If he did face defeat, a possibility would be that his company went out of business due his actions.
The animated remake[]
He first appears as a short, hot-tempered man, walking down the hallway while yelling at his employees to get to work or they’re fired.
Later in a meeting with Walter Hobbs, Buddy bursts in to tell his father about his love, until he notices Greenway, mistaking him as an elf and trying to place an elf uniform on him. Humiliated, Greenway declares that the next meeting will take place on Christmas Eve and tells his employees to be there or they’ll be fired, then he leaves.
During the meeting on Christmas Eve, Michael and Emily Hobbs bursts in to tell Walter that Buddy had ran away. Walter asks for reschedule, but Greenway refuses. In response, Walter tells Greenway that the idea of the story and it is called "I Quit!", revealing he quits his job and leaves, much to Greenway's anger.
Later, all the naughty people, including Greenway, appear in Central Park. They chase after Santa's sleigh as Buddy tries to fend them off. After Santa's sleigh takes to the sky, Greenway redeems himself and joins him.
Quotes[]
Original film[]
- [his last words on-screen yelling to Walter who is walking out on him] Hobbs. Hobbs! HOBBS! You walk outta here, and you're finished at Greenway! YOU'RE FINISHED!
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Though he’s referred to onscreen as Mr. Greenway, he’s credited as Fulton, so his full name is Fulton Greenway.
- Although he’s the main antagonist, he has little screen time as the majority of Buddy's scenes focus on Walter, Jovie, or Michael with him, and he and Buddy do not interact with one another in the original film. However, in the animated film, he has a slightly larger role and interacts with Buddy twice.
- The special marks as the 11th anniversary of the original film.
- It’s implied that Walter's selfishness was a result of Greenway's treatment towards him.
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