Elf **** (2003, Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Peter Dinklage, Michael Lerner, Zooey Deschanel) – Classic Movie Review 497

The hilarious Will Ferrell brings enormous Christmas cheer as Buddy, a six-foot-three North Pole elf, who comes to New York City to find his real dad, his birth father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan).

Funny, quirky, charming, vivacious, director Jon Favreau‘s 2003 movie Elf is a real Christmas comedy cracker. Ferrell is a great big treat, Caan raises some quizzical laughs, Ed Asner adds loads of yo-ho-ho as Santa, and Bob Newhart (as Papa Elf), Mary Steenburgen, Peter Dinklage, Michael Lerner and Zooey Deschanel are also aboard to provide more fun too.

And it is all dressed up in a grand-looking production that looks like a perfectly gift-wrapped Christmas present. It is briskly and capably directed by the actor Jon Favreau, who has a cameo as the doctor. Its success starts off from a really good screenplay by David Berenbaum and builds from there.

It was a major hit, earning $173,398,518 in the US. And, as time goes by, Elf has proved its lasting worth as a perennial Christmas favourite over the years.

The main cast are Will Ferrell, James Caan, Ed Asner, Bob Newhart, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Daniel Tay, Faizon Love, Peter Dinklage, Amy Sedaris, Michael Lerner, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, Artie Lange, Claire Lautier, Ted Friend, Patrick Ferrell, Patrick McCartney, Jon Favreau, Lydia Lawson-Baird, Richard Sale and Peter Billingsley.

Elf is directed by Jon Favreau, runs 97 minutes, is made by Gold/Miller Productions, Mosaic Media Group, Guy Walks into a Bar Productions, Shawn Danielle Productions and New Line Cinema, is released by New Line Cinema (US) and Entertainment (UK), is written by David Berenbaum, is shot by Greg Gardiner, is produced by Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki and Shauna Robertson, is scored by John Debney and is designed by Rusty Smith.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 497

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