Synopsis
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.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Will FerrellBuddy
- James CaanWalter
- Bob NewhartPapa Elf
- Ed AsnerSanta
- Mary SteenburgenEmily
- Zooey DeschanelJovie
- Daniel TayMichael
- Faizon LoveGimbel's Manager
- Peter DinklageMiles Finch
- Amy SedarisDeb
Recommendations
- 83
Entertainment Weekly
The disarming comedic tone -- silly and novel in its lack of cynicism -- is driven by the fearless, cheerful unself-consciousness of Will Ferrell, a big man last seen streaking (all too unself-consciously) through ''Old School.'' - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
While the words "instant holiday classic" might be pushing it, Elf is at the very least a breezily entertaining, perfectly cast family treat. - 80
Newsweek
Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the “true spirit of Christmas” must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle. - 70
Variety
Will Ferrell graduates to his first solo leading role with flying colors in Elf, a disarming holiday comedy about a clueless innocent who saves Christmas and fosters a renewed sense of family in his reluctant father. - 70
Dallas Observer
Elf may be no more than a pleasant, amusing trifle, a grin that fades well before Thanksgiving, but it also will endure in the way all decent Hollywood-made Christmas fairy tales last if they're rendered with good cheer and good will. - 63
ReelViews
More likely to end up on the snow pile of forgettable Christmas-themed movies than in the vault of memorable ones. - 60
The A.V. Club
The cast wrings laughs out of David Berenbaum's script as if it were a damp washcloth. - 50
Rolling Stone
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.
