Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Christmas, Suspense, Fantasy
Tagline: This holiday, discover your inner elf.
Plot: This holiday season, discover your inner elf!One Christmas Eve, a long time ago, a small baby at an orphanage crawled into Santa’s bag of toys, only to go undetected and accidentally carried back to Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Though he was quickly taken under the wing of a surrogate father and raised to be an elf, as he grows to be three sizes larger than everyone else, it becomes clear that Buddy (Will Ferrell) will never truly fit into the elf world. What he needs is to find his real family. This holiday season, Buddy decides to find his true place in the world and sets off for New York City to track down his roots. Although Buddy experiences a world he never knew existed, he quickly learns that life in the big city is not all ice skating and sugarplums, and he finds himself as much an outsider there as back in the North Pole. Buddy seeks out his real father, Walter (James Caan), a workaholic publisher of children’s books with a place on Santa’s "naughty" list. Walter doesn’t believe Buddy is who or what he says he is; in fact, the only thing Walter believes in with any certainty is the bottom line. Buddy also discovers a new mom (Mary Steenburgen), and learns he has a ten-year-old half-brother (Daniel Tay) who doesn’t believe in Christmas or elves or
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 Thanks to a classic performance by comedian Will Ferrell, director Jon Favreau's Elf has some genuinely funny moments, but while the idea behind Elf may be gleefully outlandish, unfortunately this holiday comedy fails to take full advantage of its own absurdity.  --Guylaine Cadorette (Hollywood.com)
Mr. Favreau's direction has a relaxed, swinging rhythm, a reflection of the hipster nonchalance that has defined (and also limited) his acting style. The big, chaotic scenes sometimes lack polish and precision, but ''Elf'' also happily forgoes the slick,hyperactive aggression that makes so many live-action holiday comedies so wearying.--A.O. Scott (The New York Times)
Elf is a feather-light motion picture that embraces the Christmas spirit, but, in the process, forgets that it's trying to be a comedy. Maybe the problem is that Will Ferrell, as outrageous a comedian as there is, is neutered beyond his ability to be funny by the family friendly PG rating.  --James Berardinelli (ReelViews)
In Jon Favreau's irresistibly goofy Christmas comedy, Will Ferrell is raised by Santa's elves but must find his real family in Manhattan.--Stephanie Zacharek (Salon)
This is one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece. Even the unexpected casting is on the money.  --Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)
It’s sure nice to have a film like this that actually works (to some extent). B---Lee Tistaert (Lee's Movie Info)
“Elf” will warm the heart with nostalgia, dazzle the eyes, tickle the funny bone, and make Christmas feel like it can‘t come fast enough. A---Brian Orndorf (FilmJerk.com)
There are few Christmas movies I can stand to watch over and over, with A Christmas Story, Gremlins, and Die Hard the most notable examples of this. With Elf, director Jon Favreau has crafted a film that will surely join that elite group as the years go on. --David Nusair (Reel Film Reviews)
Even though Elf and Santa Claus the Movie may look similar in their underlying paths of continuity, this new Jon Favreau flick is actually the antidote. Its powerful intentions provide a much needed cure to that antiquated childhood nightmare.  --B. Alan Orange (MovieWeb)
It could have been dreadful, but actor-turned-helmer Favreau and screenwriter David Berenbaum keep the schmalz to a minimum, while giving Ferrell plenty of room to showcase his trademark brand of manic comic intensity.  --Neil Smith (BBC Films)
“Elf” is a Christmas movie aimed at kids, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s sentimental and super-sweet and full of dumb gags. Yet I was surprised, shocked even at how predictable, trite and unfunny it is for one simple reason: Will Ferrell. --Kevin N. Laforest (Montreal Film Journal)
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| Directed by |
Jon Favreau
Zathura: A Space Adventure, John Carter of Mars, Iron Man |
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| Cast |
Will Ferrell
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy |
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 | Bob Newhart
In & Out, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Catch-22 |
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 | Mary Steenburgen
Back to the Future Part III, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Life as a House |
 | Zooey Deschanel
Almost Famous, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Good Girl |
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| Music By |
John Debney
Sin City, The Passion of the Christ, Bruce Almighty |
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| Between Will Ferrell’s loveable klutziness and Jon Favreau’s knowing-when-enough-is-enough direction, it’s a big, silly, warm-hearted Christmas season winner of a comedy. 76/100 --Brian Webster (Apollo Guide)
Childlike wonder is what Will Ferrell does best, and he has found the perfect outlet for it in the charming holiday movie "Elf," a non-sappy and genuinely adorable confection. --Jami Bernard (New York Daily News)
That rarest of beasts: an extremely funny Christmas-themed family comedy with a great script and a performance of comedy gold from Will Ferrell. --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon)
"Elf" is funny and intelligently made, a film for kids and adults that's both sweet and sardonic. It takes the clash between the world as we know it and the world as it exists in Christmas stories and exploits that contrast to expert comic effect.--Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle)
Fun-filled, cleverly written and toasty warm with a gooey syrup centre, there's just no way around it - I loved this film. 8/10--Gary Panton (Movie Gazette)
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