Elf DVD

Advantages: Very funny; children will love it
Disadvantages: PG cert; Lame fx at times

...95 mins Cert: PG ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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) ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful