Will Ferrell makes yet another memorable splash on the big screen in Jon Favreau's sweet and hilarious Christmas fable. Ferrell is Buddy, an innocent figure who was raised as an... more
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Elf [2003]
Elfis genuinely good. Not justSaturday Night Live-movie good, when the movie has some
... more
funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity;Elfis a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who...
Elf [2003]
Elfis genuinely good. Not justSaturday Night Live-movie good, when the movie has some
... more
funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity;Elfis a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who...
funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity;Elfis a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who returns to the human world to find his father. And because the writing, directing, and acting are all genuinely good,Elfis also genuinely funny. Will Ferrell, as Buddy the adopted elf, is hysterically sincere. James Caan, as his rediscovered father, executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel, as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love, is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that's sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly,Elffeels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Ed Asner as Santa Claus.--Bret Fetzer
Advantages: Very funny; children will love it Disadvantages: PG cert; Lame fx at times
...95 mins
Cert: PG
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Elf is this year's big studio offering from the New Line Cinema stable. The story opens with Papa Elf (the legendary Bob Newhart, no less) telling a sage-like tale from his rocking chair. Seasonal angst is par for the course and usually comes served with metaphorical roast turkey and trimmings. In this instance, a baby wanders into Santa's sack whilst the bearded ... ...he may not be an elf at all, he decides to make his way to New York to discover who his real father is (the fact that he has grown to around 6'5" rather gave the game away).
Elf is the latest in a long line of festive offerings that draws on all the usual ingredients that you would expect in a movie like this. Recent outings such as Santa Clause: The Movie along with the requisite sequel sit amongst the behemoths of a rather specialist genre (Miracle ...
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Advantages: Seasonal fun (kind of...) Disadvantages: Too mediocre to be a classic
...the weird guy in the elf suit and we all know it. Yes, this is a fantasy, and I'm happy to suspend my disbelief as much as the next man, and the beautiful girl being charmed by the eccentric guy is a staple of the rom-com but there just isn't enough shown to convince us she'd really fall for this elf…er, guy. James Caan is suitably irascible as Buddy's Dad, Walter Hobbs, but as he gets to know his own son (another by-the-numbers plot development) ... ...to justify it. Mary Steenburgen is promising as Buddy's would-be stepmom but gets virtually nothing to do. And Ed Asner as a surly Santa just gives off the wrong vibes.
The film is overly-sentimental, especially nearing the rushed climax, Some of the ideas are fine, such as Jovie having to overcome her fear of performing in public to lead a rousing impromptu session of carol-singing (don't ask) but the execution is just a little bit off. The humour ...
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Advantages: funny in places, some interesting scenery Disadvantages: too childish in other places, some of the actors just looked bored
...an elf…
** ELF **
CAST: Will Ferrell (Zoolander, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery), James Caan (The Godfather, Mickey Blue Eyes), Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, The Good Girl)
DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau (Swingers, Daredevil, Something’s Gotta Give (as an actor))
CERTIFICATE: PG
RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes
www.elfmovie.com
** THE PLOT **
One Christmas a human baby is found in Santa’s sack after he’s made ... ...that he’s not really an elf and sets off to New York to find his real dad.
His father is a money-grabbing executive who spends more time at work than with his family, so the last thing he wants is another son to not spend any time with. Can Buddy bring some Christmas spirit into the lives of the new people he meets and will his father accept him as a son? All I’ll say is, it’s Christmas…
** THE CHARACTERS **
Buddy the Elf/Human (Will Ferrell) ...
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Advantages: Buddy the craziest yet most likable Elf Disadvantages: predictable, dont take seriously
...kind hearted Santa put Papa Elf in charge of Buddy's tutorage and he was raised as an Elf, unprepared it would seem for the consequences time would reveal.
Buddy isn't an Elf and he can't fit into Elvish life and it's routines, his clumsy human fingers aren't ideal for toymaking and his six foot two frame has outgrown his surroundings much like Gulliver did on his travels. Buddy's heart is in the right place but unfortunately his body isn't and ... ...Bob Newhart as Papa Elf gives a hilarious cameo with some super lines and Mary Steenburgen as Emily (Buddy's stepmother) gives a polished if somewhat unmemorable performance. I would like to have seen more of the pretty Zooey Deschanel ('All The Real Girls') who plays an Elf employed by Gimbel's Christmas Store who Buddy takes a shine to. She's funny and obviously talented but didn't get many lines, she wasn't the only one though because Buddy is ...
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Advantages: suitable for whole family, lots of laughs Disadvantages: burping and farting humour not for everyone.
...in several film projects since Elf (In which he also appears as the doctor) including the hugely popular kids film, Zathura: A Space Adventure and the much anticipated upcoming Iron Man. >>>Acting <<<
Lets be honest, this film isn’t about great acting ability, it’s about making kids laugh by being as ridiculous as possible with extended burps and farts thrown in for good measure. If we judge the acting by those standards, Will Ferrell is heads and ... ...ideal to play the giant elf who kids will relate too. He is a big ball of daft slapstick which although tiresome for grown-ups after a while, is exactly what you need in a holiday comedy.
James Caan plays his usual grumpy hard-assed bully and he plays it brilliantly as usual. He only became slightly unbelievable in the role towards the end of the film. Bob Newhart as Papa Elf was perhaps the best bit of casting I have seen in years. I am not sure ...
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Advantages: Very cliche, but fun for all the family Disadvantages: Disappoints by not playing the culture clash up enough
...* IT'S CHRIISSTMAASSSS
With the holiday season just past us, there is one movie that sticks out in my mind, and whilst I feel Ch4 showed it a little too soon before the actual 'big day' meaning I nearly choked on christmas spirit, the majority of the film was enjoyable on an all year round basis. I've just grown up to a be a scrooge who hurls at the sight of Santa even a week before the 25th December. Of course the movie I am talking about is Elf, because otherwise this review would be in the wrong place. Whilst when it comes to Will Ferrell you have to either love him or hate him, he was a strong factor in attracting me to this movie for interest in how he would portray the lead character 'Buddy' who is a human that has been brought up as an elf.
* WHAT DID I SING TO YOU ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?
The most interesting part...
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Advantages: You will live longer Disadvantages: It has to end
...Mines or Moria and the Argonath, pure scale) and up on release of the 2 DVD pack my lips began to water, but a little bird (or elf) told me that a 4 DVD pack was coming and I made the decision, the very hard decision to wait for it. I felt, and still do to a point, that this was an unnecessary ‘cash-in’ strategy by the distributors. This of course does not distract from the quality and depth of this collection or the film at all, just a ‘personal issue’.
The film itself fits onto the first 2 DVD’s with an extra 30 minutes added and a rerecorded sound track. I loved this, the extra 30 minutes added more depth to the film, a difficult task I would have thought, and characters really do benefit. It also contains what for me is one of its most valuable features, multiple commentaries, 4 in all, from the director and writers, the cast...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The Spirit Of Christmas Disadvantages: Slightly dated
...This film brings back so many happy memories of a childhood christmas. It is slightly dated, but still sucks you in and you almost end up believing in the big man in red! Even Dudley Moore is quite likeable!
This may only be watched once a year, but well worth the money, for the happiness it'll bring to adults and children alike.
Santa is played by David Huddleston, he is the best looking Santa I ever saw, with support from Dudley Moore as an elf, and the wonderful John Lithgow as a baddy.
On the DVD there is a making of documentary which is about 50 minutes long and great,
For best results, snuggle under duvet on the sofa on Christmas Eve, with a big mug of hot chocolate and pretend you're 5 all over again, if you have children, watch their faces light up. A great film for all the family...
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Actor(s): Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel
Director(s): Jon Favreau
Genre: Comedy
Classification: Parental Guidance
Production Year: 2004
Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: Buddy is a normal-sized man who has been brought up as an elf by Santa Claus. When he discovers this he decides to head back to New York to find his biological parents.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 07/11/2005
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: EDV 9247
Barcode: 5017239192470
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Sound: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Special Features: Feature With Commentaries From Jon Favreau And Will Ferrell, About Christmas, Theatrical Trailer, Elf Jukebox, Deleted Alternate Scenes, Behind The Scenes, Fun N Games
Dubbing Sound: DTS 5.1 English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 English
DVD Description
Will Ferrell makes yet another memorable splash on the big screen in Jon Favreau's sweet and hilarious Christmas fable. Ferrell is Buddy, an innocent figure who was raised as an elf in the North Pole by his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart). When Buddy discovers that he's actually a human being, he heads to New York City to reunite with his biological father. The trouble is that his dad, Walter (James Caan), is a publishing executive who doesn't have time for anything other than work. Buddy moves in with Walter and his family, and proceeds to teach them a lesson or two about what being a family really means. Meanwhile, he also falls head over heels in love with the incredibly cute department store clerk, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, the general lack of spirit in the air threatens to ground Santa for the big night. He must rely on Buddy's expertise and overall enthusiasm to ensure that Christmas will be saved once again. Favreau's film is family entertainment at its finest, featuring a performance by Ferrell that is at once innocent, tender, and laugh-out-loud funny. A stellar supporting cast--including Caan, Deschanel, Newhart, and Faizon Love--adds to the film's already overabundant charm.