Will Ferrell makes yet another memorable splash on the big screen in Jon Favreau's sweet and hilarious Christmas fable. Ferrell is Buddy, an innocent figure who was raised as an elf in the North Pole by his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart). When Buddy discovers that he's actually a human being, he heads to New York City to reunite with his biological father. The trouble is that his dad, Walter (James Caan), is a publishing executive who doesn't have time for anything other than work. Buddy moves in with Walter and his family, and proceeds to teach them a lesson or two about what being a family really means. Meanwhile, he also falls head over heels in love with the incredibly cute department store clerk, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, the general lack of spirit in the air threatens to ground Santa for the big night. He must rely on Buddy's expertise and overall enthusiasm to ensure that Christmas will be saved once again. Favreau's film is family entertainment at its finest, featuring a performance by Ferrell that is at once innocent, tender, and laugh-out-loud funny. A stellar supporting cast--including Caan, Deschanel, Newhart, and Faizon Love--adds to the film's already overabundant charm.
Original Theatrical Release: November 7, 2003
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Bonus Footage:
1. Tag Along With Will Ferrell
2. Film School For Kids
3. That's A Wrap...
4. Lights, Cameras, Puffins!
5. How They Made The North Pole
6. Deck The Halls
7. Christmas In Tinseltown
8. Santa Mania
9. Kids On Christmas
Audio Commentary:
1. Will Ferrell - Star
2. John Favreau - Director
Interactive Features:
Interactive Games: Buddy's Adventure Game
Karaoke
Read-Along
DVD-ROM Features:
Screenplay Access:
1. Read The Script While Watching The Film
DVD-ROM Games:
1. Make Your Own Christmas Book Activity
2. Send Personalized Greetings
Distributor Notes: Once upon a Christmas Eve, an orphan baby crawled into Santa's bag of gifts and was taken to the North Pole. Raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), Buddy (Will Ferrell) comes to realise he doesn't fit in with the other elves. Determined to find a place where he belongs, Buddy searches for his real dad - in New York City!
In the Big Apple, Buddy finds out why his dad (James Caan) is on the naughty list! But most importantly, he sees that the world is seriously lacking in Christmas spirit, which causes Santa all kinds of problems! So with the help of a beautiful department store elf (Zooey Deschanel), Buddy tries to teach his dad and the world the true meaning of Christmas spirit and to prove to everyone that Santa (Ed Asner) really exists!
Source: Warner Home Video
Stars
Will Ferrell: Actor, ELF/MELINDA AND MELINDA
James Caan: American Director, actor, THE GODFATHER (1972)
Zooey Deschanel: ALMOST FAMOUS
Mary Steenburgen: American Actress, TIME AFTER TIME
Edward Asner: American Actor
Bob Newhart: American comedian/actor
Daniel Tay: Actor, AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2003)
Faizon Love: Actor/Voice-Overs
Peter Dinklage: American Actor
Jon Favreau: American actor/screenwriter/director, SWINGERS
Kyle Gass: Tenacious D
Andy Richter: Actor/Sidekick
Amy Sedaris: Star, MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002)
Director
Jon Favreau: American actor/screenwriter/director, SWINGERS
Producer
Jon Berg: Executive Producer, OUT OF TIME (2003)
Todd Komarnicki: Producer, ELF (2003)
Shauna Robertson: Producer, ELF (2003)
Screenwriter
David Berenbaum: Screenwriter, ELF (2003)
Composer
John Debney: Composer/"Hocus Pocus"
Executive Producer
Cale Boyter: Executive Producer, ELF (2003)
Executive Producer
Jimmy Miller: Executive Producer, ELF (2003)
Executive Producer
Julie Wixson Darmody: Executive Producer, ELF (2003)
Executive Producer
Kent Alterman: Executive Producer, ELF (2003)
Executive Producer
Tobias Emmerich: Screenwriter-producer
Director of Photography
Greg Gardiner:
Review 1:
"...A disarming holiday comedy....The sweet-natured outsider fantasy neither skimps on nor overplays its sentimentality..."
Source: Variety
p.30 10/27/2003
Review 2:
"...There's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.103 11/27/2003
Review 3:
"...Ferrell and Favreau have engendered enough goodwill to allow for a finale that glows like winter coals. A gleeful, cracked fairytale..."
Source: Total Film
p.103 12/01/2003
Review 4:
"...Mr. Favreau's direction has a relaxed, swinging rhythm..."
Source: New York Times
p.E8 11/07/2003
Review 5:
"Will Ferrell's man-child in tights is a surprisingly affecting figure."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.42-3 12/31/2003
Review 6:
"...ELF returns to the hip but warm-hearted spirit of SWINGERS....[With] sophisticated glee and a sense of innocent fun..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C1 11/07/2003
Review 7:
"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."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.37 11/07/2003
Review 8:
"...The disarming comedic tone -- silly and novel in its lack of cynicism -- is driven by the fearless, cheerful unself-consciousness of Will Ferrell..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.94-5 11/14/2003