Elf [2003 film]

Light-hearted, surreal, and well done despite some rather strange special effects. Will Ferrell is almost believable as the oversized elf who learns that he is human and wreaks havoc in a New York department store.

Exciting towards the end, amusing in several places, and even a little poignancy. The contrast is well made between workaholics who ignore their families and those who love to work and also love life and people. Rating PG due to a few minor swearwords and innuendoes; but perhaps of more concern to some parents is the questions raised about the reality of Santa.

Full review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2022/12/elf-will-ferrell.html

A man raised by Christmas elves goes to New York.

Will Ferrell as a man-child can't go too far wrong at the worst of times, and this movie in particular is his best version of the character. Sweet, absurd, and unrelentingly joyful.

Concept: A
Story: C
Characters: B
Dialog: A
Pacing: B
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: A plus

GPA: 3.2/4

(Dec. 2012)

2022 movie #197. 2003. I never saw this because I don't like Will Farrell. But it turns out this is a pretty good movie. And nobody told me that Mary Steenburgen and Zooey Deschanel were in it. The 7th highest grossing movie of 2003.

Acting: 4.5; Theme: 4.5; Content: 4.5; Language: 4.5; Overall: 4.5

A human raised as an elf (Buddy; Will Ferrell) by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) sets out to find his real father (Walter; James Cahn) and help him to reclaim the Christmas spirit. He also helps Santa revive the sagging Christmas spirit around the world. Even while the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ and Him coming down to save sinful mankind, this film shares a funny and happy message for the holiday season. Highly recommend.

***December 25, 2022***
***December 15, 2023***
***December 18, 2024***
***December 21, 2025***

Raised as an over-sized elf, a human travels from the North Pole to NYC to meet his biological father who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
Rated PG for some mild rude humor and language

Stored in the Christmas drawer

When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic publisher.
(source: TMDb)