STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH

ELF

(2003)

With Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Daniel Tay
Directed by John Favreau
Reviewed by JB

Will Ferrell, a performer whom I can usually only take in small doses, hits the mark as Billy the Elf, an innocent thrust into the madness of New York City at Christmastime. Directed by John Favreau, this film tries to be an updated MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET but never quite makes it. Aside from Ferrell's Billy, none of the other characters are developed nearly enough to make the inevitable "Billy saves Christmas" ending pay off. The women in the cast do better than the men. Mary Steenburgen is in her patented "understanding Mom" role, but she's such an affable screen presence, she's automatically sympathetic. Zooey Deschanel does much the same with the thankless role of Billy's eventual love interest, and Billy the Elf is right - she really does have a fine singing voice. James Caan as Billy's father and Ed Asner as Santa Claus don't fare as well and, talented though they are, one wishes that two more dynamic performers had been cast instead.

But the film still works most of the way because Ferrell's boundless energy is funny and infectious (rather than grating and annoying like the boundless energy of Jim Carey) and his wide-eyed innocence is refreshing in these times, as is the relative lack of tasteless gags and foul language. ELF is also one of the few recent Christmas films that actually respects the holiday, even if it does (like so many Christmas movies) ignore the religious aspects completely. No MIRACLE, but a genial, good-natured comedy that is worth a spot in your movie lineup during the Christmas season. - JB