Elf
Rent & Buy
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.
What critics thought
Elf landed as a crowd-pleasing holiday comedy that critics broadly liked but didn't unanimously love — the gap between its strong audience approval and its more measured critical reception tells the real story. Will Ferrell's performance was the near-universal anchor, with most reviewers crediting him for carrying material that several found thin or formulaic. Where critics split was on whether the film's relentless sweetness was a feature or a bug.
“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”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, there's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play. Director Jon Favreau has the good sense to just stand out of his way.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Elf is a charming, silly family Christmas movie more likely to spread real joy than migraine, indigestion and sugar shock. The movie succeeds because it at once restrains its sticky, gooey good cheer and wildly overdoes it.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“Ferrell's man-child invites sympathy and sniggers, making this amusing despite some flimsy plotting. Sight gags and a Santa-centered story should keep the kids happy too.”
Anna Smith·Empire
Genres
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Jon FavreauDirector
Will FerrellBuddy
James CaanWalter
Bob NewhartPapa Elf
Ed AsnerSanta
Mary SteenburgenEmily
Zooey DeschanelJovie
Daniel TayMichael
Faizon LoveGimbels Manager
Peter DinklageMiles Finch
Amy SedarisDeb
Michael LernerFulton
Andy RichterMorris
John DebneyComposer
Greg GardinerCinematographyFrom the studio
Elf
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.
What critics thought
Elf landed as a crowd-pleasing holiday comedy that critics broadly liked but didn't unanimously love — the gap between its strong audience approval and its more measured critical reception tells the real story. Will Ferrell's performance was the near-universal anchor, with most reviewers crediting him for carrying material that several found thin or formulaic. Where critics split was on whether the film's relentless sweetness was a feature or a bug.
“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”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, there's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play. Director Jon Favreau has the good sense to just stand out of his way.”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“Elf is a charming, silly family Christmas movie more likely to spread real joy than migraine, indigestion and sugar shock. The movie succeeds because it at once restrains its sticky, gooey good cheer and wildly overdoes it.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“Ferrell's man-child invites sympathy and sniggers, making this amusing despite some flimsy plotting. Sight gags and a Santa-centered story should keep the kids happy too.”
Anna Smith·Empire
Genres
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Jon FavreauDirectorWill FerrellBuddyJames CaanWalterBob NewhartPapa ElfEd AsnerSantaMary SteenburgenEmilyZooey DeschanelJovieDaniel TayMichaelFaizon LoveGimbels ManagerPeter DinklageMiles FinchAmy SedarisDebMichael LernerFultonAndy RichterMorrisJohn DebneyComposerGreg GardinerCinematographyFrom the studio
Rent & Buy