"Elf"
2003
Produced by: Shauna Robertson, Todd Komarnicki, Jon Berg
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Written by: David Berenbaum
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart
New Line Cinema

4/5 Stars
Consensus: An instant classic that is both hilarious and smart Elf is both engaging and appealing. An essential holiday film that delivers time and again.

Plot: "Buddy the Elf" (Will Ferrell) has been raised among Santa's elves despite being human. Upon discovering his non-elf nature he sets out on a mission to find his father, Walter (James Caan), who has been placed on Santa's naughty list.

Directing: Favreau does a fair job at directing this witty Christmas film. Ferrell is in his normal arch-type of adult-that-behaves-like-a-child, and he is with a familiar cast so I'm not sure there was much to do on the directors behalf. But there are still some very smart and satirical moments that we have to give credit for. There isn't anything super notable in the directing, but there isn't anything especially poor ya know? ***

Acting: As stated, Ferrell is just being himself, and the same arch-type he is in every film. He does a good job at it and is hilarious at what he does, he's found a niche and he milks it, which we're perfectly ok with since he does a good job. The real gem in the film is the dead-pan way "Pappa Elf" (Bob Newhart) delivers his narration. Newhart brings the entire film up several levels on the acting aspect and does a hilarious job at being so darn dead-pan. ****

Editing: There isn't anything that especially stands out again, but things are consistent and transitions smooth. Its good but not jaw dropping and there isn't much to say about it. ***

Art Direction: The art direction is hilarious actually, and extremely well done. Especially scenes at the north pole wherein we have numerous throw-backs and tributes to the classic claymation Christmas films of the 40s (ya know... Rudolph, The Year Without A Santa Claus... etc). Another especially well done piece is the decorations Buddy puts up in preparation for Santa's coming to Gimbel's. The art direction stands out in this film. ****

Cinematography: There are some well done shots, such as Buddy singing in the shower with "Jovie" (Zooey Deschanel) or the framing of Buddy as he tests "Jack-in-the-Box" toys. Nothing is so astounding that we're floored, but its well done and clean looking regardless. ****

Screenplay: Herein lies the high point of the film. Its hilarious, Buddy the Elf's lines especially and his interactions with everything are instant classics. The smart use of things we're shown early on in the film (World's Best Cup of Coffee being reused on Buddy's date with Jovie) tying in later along in the film is well appreciated. Overall the screenplay is hysterical and extremely smart whilst still appealing to a more childish side inside of all of us. It manages to have normally dumb or childish things come out extremely funny and smart. *****

CGI/Special Effects: The use of clay-mation characters in the North Pole is hysterical and witty. Santa's sleigh looks cool, as does the engine attatched to it. The use of CGI is smart and works extremely well. Great job team. *****