Elf (2003)

Outstanding

Elf is simply one of the best holiday movies EVER. I put this one right up there with A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the very programme to which Elf plays homage.

Will Ferrell is brillant as Buddy, the human orphan who found a home and love at the North Pole with Papa Elf, one of Santa's employees. When Buddy decides to return to New York City to find his birth father, hilarity ensues.

Elf has wonderfully funny goofy moments, poignant moments, disgustingly funny moments -- like when he eats the already-been-chewed gum from a subway railing -- and a few serious moments.

Zooey Deschanel is great as Buddy's love interest, and James Caan and Mary Steenburgen are solid as Buddy's father and stepmother.

Elf is an intelligent, endearing comedy suitable for the entire family. Just make sure your little ones know that cotton balls aren't food, and that no matter what Buddy says, syrup is not a food group. November 29, 2008

Great Christmas Film-Will Be A Classic!

Someday this movie will be looked back on as a holiday classic. Fun and smart. Will Ferrell at his best. It's colorful, hopeful, and actually shows just how great it can be to believe in something.

My 4 year old daughter has watched this film about 15 times since last Christmas. I'm upgrading to blu-ray for this can't miss Christmas classic.
October 5, 2008

Yea, it was cute...

I thought that this movie was cute. I didn't expect it to be anything like Anchorman or Old School since those are movies that I would never watch with my little nephew. It was light-hearted and Will Ferrell committed to the character well. I never thought this to be anything but a kid's movie which I think it did pretty well. I probably would rate it negatively too if I thought I was going to get an "Anchorman" performance, laden with sexual references and curse words. The film is just as it's supposed to be; light-hearted, fun and entertaining and I liked it (and there is nothing wrong with my state-of-mind;-)
Yea, it was cute. September 2, 2008

An annual watch

I don't watch too many movies more than once, and hardly ever buy any, but this clever film is a favorite of mine. My kids and I watch it every year around Christmas and regale each other with lines from the movie. I noticed my brother doing the same with his kids. (Are you an angry elf?) I am sure we are not the only ones.
I love how John Favreau tied it into the Christmas movies we watched when we were younger.
Highly recommend! August 20, 2008

Light, Sweet, Hilarious!

In a world filled with elf and Santa Claus movies, this one definitely stands out from the crowd. The movie is about a human baby who accidentally crawls into Santa's sack on one fateful Christmas day, and consequently is transported to the north pole to live among cheerful, happy, Christmas-adoring elves. And like all good adopted kids in the movies, Buddy wants to meet his biological father and sets out to find him in the most un-north pole like city, New York.

Will Ferrell is perfect for this role. He is endearing as the innocent and vulnerable Buddy. You can't help but adore him. As a critical movie watcher, I sometimes imagine certain characters with different actors, but I really can't imagine anyone else playing Buddy but Will Ferrell.
The supporting actors were all very well casted as well. They all perfectly complemented Buddy's over-the-top persona.

Jon Favreau has done it marvellously. This film is light, sweet, and hilarious! A great holiday fun!

August 9, 2008

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