Elf Review

"Elf" reviews

Movie

Elf

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-03-28 21:56:44

Rating

2/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Comedian Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised by elves in the North Pole who journeys to Manhattan in search of his biological father.

Story

A combination of classic Christmas tales, Elf is the story of Buddy, an orphaned baby who crawls into Santa's toy bag and ends up being raised by elves as one of their own in the North Pole. But years later, at 6 feet 3 inches tall, this eccentric ''elf'' just doesn't fit in--literally and figuratively--so his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), tells him about his real father, a children's book publisher living in New York City. Like the aspiring dentist elf in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Buddy sets off to his version of the Island of Misfit Toys, Manhattan, but his dreams of a sugarplum-filled reunion turn sour when his dad, Walter (James Caan), turns out to be a Grinch-like curmudgeon more concerned with money then anything else. Worst of all, Buddy believes everyone in the city has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. But when Santa's sleigh crash-lands in Central Park on Christmas Eve, New Yorkers, like the people of Whoville in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, break out into song and their energy bestows enough holiday spirit to thrust Santa's reindeer-driven sleigh back into the sky. And Buddy? He wins his father over by publishing a profitable biography of his life.

Acting

Tall, blonde and goofy-looking, Ferrell's characterization of Buddy as a naïve and tenderhearted giant is absolutely hilarious and is the saving grace behind Elf. Ferrell resuscitates the film's not-so-funny lines with his delivery: he has a babyish way of pointing out the obvious in a manner that would normally be considered insulting: for example, when he meets a renowned children's author (Peter Dinklage) who happens to be a ''little person,'' he excitedly points out, ''Hey, you're an elf!'' Playing Buddy's biological father and serious counterpart is veteran actor Caan, whose unyielding expressions make Buddy's persona seem even more over the top--like when he tells his son flat out that that it's time to ditch the yellow tights. Adding an edge to the normally jovially portrayed Santa Clause is Edward Asner, whose chubby St. Nick is more stressed out and short-tempered than jolly--as expected from a man with all his responsibilities.

Direction

With a wacky concept and a great cast, it's a shame director Jon Favreau (Made) never fully exploits Elf's potential; Like Santa's reindeer-guided sleigh, the movie launches with an encouraging start in the North Pole but sputters and eventually nose-dives in the heart of Central Park. Elf's opening North Pole sequence are by far the film's best, with the lofty Buddy, somewhere in his 30s, still not fully comprehending that he is not an elf. The tiny, snowcapped sets create a truly funny juxtaposition for Ferrell's oversized character as he crams into miniscule props, including a school desk, a bathtub, a bed and an impractically small house. But like a blizzard, Favreau plows through the movie's creative North Pole setting and into the insipid city backdrop, where the film falls prey to clichéd fish-out-of-water jokes. Here, Buddy marvels at all things cosmopolitan, including department store revolving doors and escalators. It's a shame Favreau cut short Buddy's antics as a lanky, middle-aged human surrounded by elves in the North Pole while utterly prolonging his experiences as an elf in New York City.

Bottom Line

Thanks to a classic performance by comedian Will Ferrell, director Jon Favreau's Elf has some genuinely funny moments, but while the idea behind Elf may be gleefully outlandish, unfortunately this holiday comedy fails to take full advantage of its own absurdity.

Movie

ELF

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-25 19:12:18

Provider

Review

Ah, Christmas. The thought of maxed-out credit cards, tinsel in August and a few more pairs of socks, it's enough to make the heart swell, isn't it? Well if Will Ferrell and this charming festive flick have their way you'll be back in the Christmas spirit before you can say 'Bah humbug'.

Old School star Ferrell plays Buddy, an orphan who, one Christmas Eve, managed to find his way into Santa's sack and ended up back at the North Pole with the big guy and his Elf helpers. Rather than take Buddy back to the orphanage, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) adopts the infant and promises to raise him as his own. Skip forward a few years and it's obvious that Buddy (Ferrell) isn't like his co-Elfs. For a start he's not very good at making toys, he's clumsy, oh, and he's six foot three. After finding out the truth and that his biological father (James Caan) lives in New York, Buddy sets off on the adventure of a lifetime - to find his Dad and take a bite out of the Big Apple.

As you'd expect Elf is packed full of fish-out-of-water situations and predictable laughs but what is perhaps surprising is that it works so well. Ferrell plays Buddy with such enthusiasm, naivety charm that it's hard not to like him while Caan occasionally looks genuinely scared by the unpredictable giant standing beside him.

Jon Favreau (who appears in a cameo) does his burgeoning directorial CV no harm at all with his efforts with a snowball fight John Woo would be proud of and the greatest belch ever committed to celluloid help raise the laughs. But, let's face it, the sight of Will Ferrell walking along Fifth Avenue in yellow tights and a little green hat is pretty good on it's own. And let's not forget department store worker Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) - who adds a love interest without the film ever descending into total schmaltz.

There's only one problem with Elf - it might put you off spaghetti (you'll understand).