“Elf” (New Line Cinema)
Will Ferrell comes into his own as a leading man on the big screen with the fated to be a Christmas classic movie, “Elf.” This film about a man raised at the North Pole as an elf, who learns he is actually a regular human being, is sure to please Ferrell’s already large fan base and draw new admirers to him.
Ferrell plays Buddy, a man who lives at the North Pole. He got there by crawling into Santa’s bag when he was a baby and being mistakenly taken home with him. Since he was an orphan Santa (Ed Asner) turned him over to Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) to raise.
Buddy lived a happy life until he got so tall and so gangly that it was obvious he wasn’t like his elf brethren. After a talk with Santa it was revealed that Buddy’s birth father was a man named Walter Hobbes (James Caan) who is now living in New York.
Buddy leaves the North Pole and goes to New York City to reunite with his long lost father and to become part of his father’s family, which includes his wife Emily (Mary Steenbergen), and his half brother Michael (Daniel Tay). Walter is a little standoffish at first but Emily and Michael welcome him with open arms.
The rest of the movie deals with Buddy’s adjustment to “normal life” and the way people react to him. There are some really hilarious moments here as well as some sentimental and touching ones.
The secret to the success of the movie is Will Ferrell. His ability to project naivete and gullibility make the movie believable, in the loosest sense of the word. He keeps Buddy’s childlike heart and humor at the exactly right level. It never creeps over into total edginess and it never sinks into utter sappiness.
Caan is amazingly likeable as Walter. Ferrell somehow manages to spread some of his warmth and humor over on to him. Asner is a perfectly charming but gruff Santa, and Zooey Deschanel adds appeal as the girl Buddy meets and cares for.
The movie is rated PG for mild profanity.
“Elf” is a feel good movie in the best sense of the word. It will charm all members of your family and lift the hearts of all who view it. Who knew that Ferrell could worm his way into our hearts so totally, but he does that in “Elf.”
Don’t be put off by the fact this is a “family” film. That classification is applied in the best sense possible. It means that all members of the family will be entertained – totally!
I scored “Elf” a spritely 8 out of 10.
