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Each year, there is a film that arrives around the holidays to remind us that sharing and caring is what it's all about. This year, it is Jon Favreau's Elf, with Saturday Night Live alumnus Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole. Edward Asner (The Animal) is Santa Claus, with James Caan (television's Las Vegas series) as Buddy's human father and Bob Newhart as his adoptive elf father. Director Jon Favreau gives the audience a holiday story that mixes North Pole magic with big business, plus a department store, snowball fight and animation. Yes, holidays with Ferrell are not the usual mistletoe and eggnog. David Berenbaum's story begins with Santa Claus visiting an orphanage. While Santa nibbles cookies, a baby boy crawls from his crib into Santa's sack of toys. Back at the North Pole, out crawls the baby, who is promptly adopted by an elf ("I was too busy to start my own family") and raised as one of Santa's helpers. The trouble is, Buddy (named for his brand of diaper) is taller than everyone. No bed or school desk fits him, and he just can't seem to put those toys together. When Buddy overhears that he is a "human," he decides to find his real father and start a bonding process. Well, after leaving the animated figures at the edge of the Pole (snowman and a narwhal), Buddy eventually comes to New York City. There are plenty of jokes as he encounters taxi cabs ("Those yellow cars just don't stop"), revolving doors, and the Empire State Building. Needless to say, Caan isn't thrilled with having a lost son appear, but his wife (Mary Steenburgen) and son (Buddy's half-brother and played by Daniel Tay) are pleased. Buddy's work at Gimbel's and meeting a girl (Zooey Deschanel) cause some problems, but they're not anything that the holidays can't handle. Unfortunately, Deschanel and Steenburgen aren't given that much to do. There is a slam-bang ending concerning Central Park Rangers (who ride around the park like Wraiths from Lord of the Rings), a rocket sleigh, songs and raising the Christmas spirit level. No wonder Santa Claus needs 364 days to rest up.

Will Ferrell doesn't go over the top as Buddy; instead, he tones it down and proves that less is more. As Buddy's father, James Caan allows his facial expressions to denote emotion, and this characteristic also is in the "less is more" mode. The same with Edward Asner as Santa, who has a large white beard (good make-up there), and lets his eyes do the acting. It's been a busy time for Edward Asner. He's gone from playing Pope John XXIII in a made-for-television film done in Italy (it received the highest ratings ever, there) to The Man Who Saved Christmas with Jason Alexander (about A. C. Gilbert) and now Elf. Yes, this cast knows what it's all about and that's what elevates Elf to a higher level. Director Favreau appears in a cameo as a doctor.  

All in all, Elf has a small story that is supplemented by having Buddy encounter one situation after another. He makes friends with someone "from work release" at a mail room in Caan's building and soon has a party there. He interrupts an important meeting Caan has with a talented writer (Dinklage) who is a dwarf. Buddy thinks the man is an elf and the audience can imagine the rest. The department store Santa, though, doesn't stand a chance with Buddy, who "knows the real Santa and you aren't him." Then, there is the snowball fight where you definitely want Buddy on your side. Elf has enough fun to let audiences relax and enjoy themselves. 
Three tocks

Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
Submitted 11/17/03