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Elf

Starring: Will Ferrell
Director: Jon Favreau
Genre: Comedu
Year: 2003
Rating: 3 / 5

What sort of career will films ultimately hold for Will Ferrell? It may be too soon to tell, but, with Elf, Ferrell has certainly gotten off to a much better start than many of his fellow Saturday Night Live alums. People tend to view Ferrell as a likeable, goofy lug, meaning he does not have to stray far to carry Elf on his broad shoulders. Just in time for the holiday season, Elf is an ideal example of good family entertainment – cute and sweet for the children, funny for the adults. Actor-director Jon Favreau shows the proper amount of respect for holiday fare of yesteryear while keeping Elf fresh enough for today’s fickle fans.

Buddy (Will Ferrell) has spent his entire life living with elves at the North Pole. In fact, Buddy believes that he is also an elf. After overhearing that he is in fact not an elf, having been adopted thirty years prior, Buddy is determined to find his true father. Sheltered with Santa (a cranky Ed Asner) and his diminutive helpers, Buddy is not exactly prepared for the real world, but Santa and Papa Elf (a delightful Bob Newhart) help get him on his way. After journeying – on foot, no less! – all the way south to New York City, Buddy finally runs into his father Walter (James Caan), a man who could not be less inspired by Christmas. As Buddy learns more and more about life, Walter comes to see the value in Christmas, and in the son he did not know he had.

Will Ferrell is the star of the film in every way, and it is certainly his vehicle. He has an earnestness that is conveyed every time he smiles, almost like a dog who wants to be petted for doing a good job. As Ferrell’s Buddy finds himself in increasingly unusual circumstances, this warm vibe helps to bring even more laughter. Strong supporting turns are put forth by the likes of Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, and, in a small role (no pun intended), Peter Dinklage. Playing a vertically-challenged author with a penchant for penning bestsellers, Dinklage does not take kindly to Ferrell’s belief that he is in fact an elf. Needless to say, Ferrell winds up pushing things a bit too far, leading to one of the film’s most memorable sequences.

Elf is by no means ground-breaking, but it is warm and caring. Will Ferrell is entertaining to watch, and the film is inoffensive enough that the whole family can enjoy. Whether his success here is directly attributable to his desire to stray from a Saturday Night Live vehicle or not is highly debatable, but some of his former cohorts could learn a lesson or two. Ferrell is a joy, and that gives Elf the little bit of magic it needs. When it comes to finding a holiday film at the multiplex that entertains without insulting, Elf might be just the ticket.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG for language.
Running Time: 95 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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