Elf (2003) Synopsis:
As a baby, Buddy crawls into Santa's toy bag and is whisked off to the North Pole, where he is raised as an elf. A misfit who grows to be three times the size of his elf family, Buddy ultimately heads to his birthplace of New York City to seek out his roots. Unfortunately, they turn out to be a "Scrooge"-like father and a cynical ten-year-old stepbrother who doesn't believe in Santa. Worst of all, everyone seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. But using his simple elf ways, Buddy sets out to single-handedly win over his family and save Christmas in New York, hoping to at last find his true place in the world.
Elf (2003) Movie Review:
Buddy (Ferrell) wasn't your normal elf at Santa's workshop. He wasn't that good at making toys and the rest of the elves struggled to find something that he could do. Buddy wondered why he wasn't like everyone else but until he overheard two elves talking he had never considered the awful truth. He was a human. Shocked, Buddy decides to travel to New York to find his real father and bring him some much needed Christmas cheer because to his horror Walter Hobbs (Caan) was on Santa's naughty list.
Christmas movies tend to be overly sugary sweet and full of false, Hollywood, commercial seasonal cheer but Elf is slightly different.
Yes it does have a healthy dose of sugar coating, especially at the end but the whole film has one big thing going for it, the talent that is Will Ferrell. This is the breakout role for the Saturday Night Live veteran, who's movie career so far had been filled with entertaining but small supporting roles in films like Old School, Zoolander and Austin Powers. With a real gift for physical comedy and a genuine ability to play the character with a childlike innocence, Ferrell makes Buddy instantly likeable to both adults and children. From him not fitting in, in the North Pole to his Elf out of the workshop discovery of New York City, Ferrell draws you into the character by providing some laugh-out-loud moments for all the family.
There is good support from James Caan, as Buddy's reluctant father. The straight man to Ferrell's mania, Caan easily copes with been on Santa's naughty list by playing Walter as a man who thinks he has spawned a loony. Edward Asner makes a good Santa. Bob Newhart is great as the narrator of the story and as Buddy's adoptive Papa. While slightly underused, the talented Zooey Deschanel gets another chance to shine.
Director Jon Favreau, who is better known as an actor from films like Daredevil, Swingers and Deep Impact, captures Christmas cheer with just the right amount of syrupiness. He makes the movie accessible to both children and adults making Elf a true Christmas family movie.
With just the right amount of Christmas cheer, laugh-out-loud situations and the emerging talent of Will Ferrell, Elf is a feel good, seasonal movie that will nicely get you in the mood for the festive time of year.
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Elf (2003) review written by: Jamie Kelwick
11th October, 2008 
