Elf

Release Date: November 7, 2003
Studio: New Line Cinema
Director: Jon Favreau
Screenwriter: David Berenbaum
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner
Genre: Comedy, Family
MPAA Rating: PG (for some mild rude humor and language)
Official Website: Elfmovie.com

Plot Summary: A human baby raised as an elf. A city where no one remembers the true meaning of Christmas. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised in the North Pole to be an elf. After wreaking havoc in the elf community due to his size, Buddy heads to New York City to find his place in the world, and track down his father. But life in the big city is not all sugarplums and candy canes. His father is a "Scrooge" and his eight-year-old stepbrother doesn't believe in Santa. Even the snowmen aren't friendly in New York. In fact, they don't even speak. Worst of all, everyone has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, and it's up to Buddy and his simple elf ways to win over his family, realize his destiny and, ultimately, save Christmas for New York and the world.

Review By Mike Thompson:
- Who said they don't make 'em like they used to?

The holiday season has finally come around and you know what that means… stupid holiday movies.

Well don’t put Elf under that category this year. You would think that a movie like this, with Will Ferrell in his first leading role, would be another Santa Clause 2, or some other terrible family Christmas movie. But director Jon Favreau (Swingers, Made) really pulled through with his smart directing and made it Ferrell’s movie.

A lot of times when a great supporting actor takes the leap to lead it doesn’t turn out too well (Shallow Hal). But Ferrell handles it great and makes Elf a great family movie that should be right up there with School of Rock.

The plot is very simple and a bit formulaic, but still fun. Buddy (Will Ferrell) is a human child that jumped into Santa’s bag from an orphanage and isn’t found until Santa is back at the North Pole. One of the older elves decides to take him on since he always wanted a child of his own.

Buddy grows up with no idea that he is a human until Papa Elf points out that he’s 4 feet taller than everyone and that everything is a fourth of the size of him. So he tells Buddy the truth, that he was an orphan and his real dad is out there. Buddy immediately gets excited and travels to New York City to find his Dad. He is completely helpless to everything, and that is what makes Elf so hilarious.

Buddy’s adventures in New York are exactly what Will Ferrell does best. Loud outbursts, stupid comments, and funny faces; that’s just Ferrell’s bag right there. I wasn’t too sure about Jon Favreau directing this one because of his former films. I loved Swingers and Made, but they definitely weren’t for children. I was wrong though; Favreau directed smartly and has really secured a good career for Ferrell as well.

Because of Old School being so huge, that made popularity go way up for Ferrell, now that he has shown he can handle a lead role I think he will have many more movies to come. He already has a role of The Man in the Yellow Hat for a Curious George movie and will also star in a new Woody Allen movie.

Both director and actor have shown us something new that they are good at which makes for a great holiday movie that is fun for all ages. This one will stay with you and keep you laughing throughout the day and night.