ELF
US, 2003, 97 minutes, Colour.
Will Ferrall, James Caan, Zoe Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay, Edward Asner, Bob Newhart, Michael Lerner, Jon Favreau.
Directed by Jon Favreau.
Perhaps they don't want the word to get round, but many of the crusty critics found themselves unexpectedly enjoying this Christmas concoction. It is very entertaining, well written, funny, plenty of sentiment but not mawkish, directed with some charm and flair by actor, Jon Favreau (Swingers, Love and Sex, Daredevil) who has a cameo as the doctor.
Much of the credit for the success of the film must go to Will Ferrell. In the broad comedies in which he usually appears (A Night at the Roxbury, Old School), he usually draws on his Saturday Night Live background and broad and raucous humour. Here, you can believe him as a giant elf who works (very ineffectually at times) at Santa's toyshop, finds that he is really human and sets off to New York city (as once upon a time Crocodile Dundee did) and reacts to the city and its people with a childlike simplicity and honesty.
Bob Newhart, as a senior elf, narrates the story like a television interview with his characteristic hesitant irony. He has adopted Buddy (who had crawled into Santa's sack at the orphanage as a baby). Santa is a somewhat crusty Ed Asner. James Caan is the cranky book publisher who never knew that he had a child and who is no mood to have a giant elf for a son. Mary Steenburgen is charming as his much more kindly wife. Zoe Deschanel is the shop assistant who befriends him.
It is quite amazing that Will Ferrell dressed in elf's clothes wandering modern New York City, trying to do nice things for people (especially getting the mailroom staff all singing carols), getting into all kinds of mix-ups can be so entertaining.
1. The film received well by audiences and critics alike? A delightful Christmas film? The Santa Claus stories and legends? A 21st century variation?
2. The re-creation of the North Pole, the elves' workshop, seeing them at work, their personalities, their code, Santa as rather gruff but organising the workshop? The contrast with New York City at Christmastime, the offices, the stores, the Christmas decorations, ordinary homes? The realism and the fantasy?
3. The focus on Buddy, Santa's 1968 trip, the child in the orphanage under the care of the sisters, crawling into Santa's bag and being taken to the North Pole?
4. Bob Newhart as Poppa Elf, his serious demeanour, the decision to tell Buddy the truth, the interview, his tone, the respective sizes? The story of Poppa adopting him, loving him, bringing him up? The truth about his real father, a quest for Buddy, going to New York - but returning to the North Pole?
5. The character of Santa, his gruff manner, his travels, the deer? His bringing the baby home to the North Pole? Giving it a name, the practical difficulties, nappies_?
6. Buddy and his growing up, becoming large, in the classes, in the room, his bed, his toilet? His work and his being slow at elf work? The serious study of each jack-in-the-box and being frightened every time? The importance of gifts, his being a very affirming young man? A human being as an elf?
7. The discussion about his real father, the photo of his mother, his going on a quest, the toys seeing him off, the snowman and the goodbye, the nature of the journey, the story, going through Canada and the snow, coming to the Lincoln Tunnel and his glimpses of New York?
8. Walter, cantankerous, Scrooge-like, his book company, the interviews with the managing director? His assistants? His dilemma about getting the books ready for Christmas? Printing books with the pages not properly done? The photo, the story and his listening to Buddy, his relationship with Emily, his son Michael? The possibility of getting the sack? Bringing in the storywriter - and his being vertically challenged, resenting any reference to his being a dwarf? Cantankerous, money-grabbing?
9. Buddy in New York, playing in the street, the revolving door, wanting the best coffee? His visit to his father, getting through security, the difficulties in the office? His getting thrown out? His visit to the home, his nice response to Emily and to Michael? Going to Gimbels', being mistaken for a worker elf, the boss and his ordering him around, meeting Jovie? His decorating the store all night, hearing Jovie sing, his attack on the fake Santa?
10. Walter getting him from jail, bringing him home, the discussions about his being in the house, his genial response to everyone and everything? Being tucked in by his father, the tickle? Spaghetti and syrup and his making breakfast? His decorating the house? The phone calls? His ordinary clothes, going to work, his joy at going to the mailroom - and transforming everyone in the mailroom, celebrating and singing?
11. Michael, his age, relationship with his absent father, love for his mother, his friends? Being friends with Buddy? Emily and her welcoming Buddy into the house, as a son?
12. The changes in Walter, the note, the interview with the writer and its failure, Michael coming to him on Christmas Eve, his decision to help out, especially with Buddy and Santa?
13. Santa's arrival, crashing, the rangers chasing him? The television? Walter and Michael with the engine? The TV crews, the reporters and their scepticism? Jovie, her being present, urging people to sing, the whole family singing, getting enough Christmas spirit to lift Santa and the deer into the air to continue the journey? Santa's book and its being evidence that he had come?
14. The humour with the Clausometer and Santa going on his ways?
15. The happy resolution, the marriage between Buddy and Jovie, the baby, the visits to the North Pole, writing the book?
16. The importance of the character of Buddy, the man-child, naïve and optimistic, gentle and kind, eternally surprised? His transforming others, the cantankerous father, the lonely boy, the devoted mother, Jovie and her lack of confidence, unwillingness to sing, low self-image, coming alive with her love for Buddy? Poppa Elf, Santa Claus and all the elves?
