Will Ferrell Makes Elf an Instant Holiday Classic

By Jeff Eason

It is a performance that everyone who has seen the movie is talking about. Will Ferrell’s amazingly sincere job as Buddy in the new comedy Elf is the glue that keeps the movie from slipping into cynical farce. Sure, the movie is predictably silly and not without its groan-worthy moments. But Ferrell, in his first true starring role, pulls it off with style and charm.

In addition to Ferrell’s strong performance, Elf gets a lot of help from a solid supporting cast featuring James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner and Zooey Deschanel.

For those unfamiliar with the trailer, Elf is the story of Buddy, an orphan who hitches a ride to the North Pole in Santa’s toy bag. Raised as an elf, Buddy does his best to fit in with his elfin brethren but is about three times as large and shows no ability for toy making.

“It finally comes to pass that Papa Elf has to explain to Buddy that he’s not an elf; that he is, in fact, a human being,” said Newhart who plays Papa Elf. “He has to explain that Buddy’s mother put him up for adoption and then shortly after that passed away, but his biological father (Caan) is alive and living in Manhattan.”

Buddy decides to return to his human roots, setting off a series of mishaps for his newfound family and a good portion of New York City. Buddy’s good nature and innocence make it impossible for those around him to chastise him for being so goofy and out of place in the world of men. His spirit infects all those around him, including his overly serious half-brother Michael (Daniel Tay).

“There is nothing jaded about Buddy,” said Steenburgen. “There is nothing cynical or hip about him. There’s nothing other than this childlike innocence and huge ability to have fun. He plays with the abandon of a child, and in many ways Michael doesn’t and he’s only ten. Buddy reminds us that we’re all capable of being magical—we’re all capable of having what is known as the Christmas spirit, which is really just having stars in your eyes and remembering what it is to be a child.”

Elf loses a bit of steam with a subplot about Christmas possibly being cancelled because of a lack of spirit in the modern world, but Ferrell keeps it real with his genuine portrayal of Buddy.

As a holiday flick with heart and wit, Elf far outshines previous Christmas movies such as The Santa Clause and the live action version of The Grinch. As such, it has a built-in rerun factor as it will be shown annually on television and rented for families looking for some holiday fare for Christmas 2004, 2005, 2006, etc.

Elf is rated PG for some “mild rude humor and language” and is currently playing at Regal Cinemas in Boone.

Holiday Movie Question

Every year there’s at least one or two Christmas movies that make it to the Cineplex. For my money, some of the best holiday flicks were some that were made specifically for television. A Christmas Story, starring Peter Billingsley, is a particular favorite of mine that was never released theatrically. It’s based on Jean Shepherd’s hilarious memoir In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash and features the loveable Ralphie in bunny pajamas dreaming of the Holy Grail of all Christmas presents: The Red Ryder BB gun.

Other favorites include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (“Bumbles bounce!”), The Nightmare Before Christmas (It doubles as a Halloween flick) and the tried and true It’s A Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart at his most intense, Donna Reed at her most radiant).

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown always depresses me…I don’t know if it’s the Vince Guaraldi piano music or the sad little cartoon Christmas tree. I know, it turns out all happy in the end but by that time I’ve already spiked the eggnog with Maker’s Mark and had a good cry.

What’s your favorite holiday movie? Go online and tell us why you love a particular Christmas flick and we might print your response in a future edition of the Movie Review Page right here in The Mountain Times.

Send your responses to: movieguy@mountaintimes.com.