Elf (November 4/03)

There are few Christmas movies I can stand to watch over and over, with A Christmas Story, Gremlins, and Die Hard the most notable examples of this. With Elf, director Jon Favreau has crafted a film that will surely join that elite group as the years go on.

The movie stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human that's been raised as one of Santa's elves and actually believes himself to be an elf. He learns the obvious truth, and heads to New York with the hopes of meeting his biological father (played by James Caan). Fish-out-of-water wackiness ensues upon his arrival in the Big Apple.

Not only is Elf an above-average Christmas movie, but it's that rare flick that's be designed to appeal to all ages. Though it's not quite up there with something like Toy Story, there's enough good-natured humor and heart-warming antics to keep most viewers entertained. Without question, Ferrell's performance is a big part of what makes the film as effective as it is. He's always been something of a scene-stealer in movies like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Old School (not to mention his hilarious work on Saturday Night Live), but he really comes into his own here. Ferrell proves that he's got the charisma and presence to carry a movie on his shoulders, and even manages to hold his own opposite experienced folks like Caan and Bob Newhart (playing Buddy's adopted father).

As a director, Favreau has improved immeasurably over his debut outing (Made, the Favreau/Vince Vaughn comedy). That film certainly wasn't bad, but Favreau's reliance on a jerky handheld camera became more of an annoyance than anything else. Elf, on the other hand, has that fairy tale feeling that one expects from a Christmas movie of this sort. And Favreau's not afraid to take his time in telling this story; the film's pace is reminiscent of the kind of family movies that used to be prevalent. While there are a few sequences that could've either been shortened or excised altogether (a scene in which Buddy gets drunk could've been lifted right out of the picture without causing any real harm), the movie is consistently entertaining.

Though Ferrell's performance probably would have been enough to keep things enjoyable, Favreau has peppered the cast with talented supporting players. Caan, in a rare comedic role, is very good as the Scrooge-like character whose heart is melted by Buddy. And Zooey Deschanel, playing Buddy's love interest, does a nice job of playing a woman that has to go through a similar arc as Caan (and their eventual relationship is genuinely touching). Peter Dinklage, currently on screen in The Station Agent, steals all his scenes as a temperamental children's writer.

As expected, Elf's conclusion is heartwarming and sappy (but not overwhelmingly so), with all the characters learning the true meaning of Christmas. It's just about the perfect way to end the story, and pretty much guarantees Elf's place among similar seasonal classics.