Elf (2003)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 171
Fresh: 144 | Rotten: 27
A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers.
Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 41
Fresh: 32 | Rotten: 9
A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers.
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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 832,936
My Rating
Movie Info
For his sophomore stab at directing, actor/writer/director Jon Favreau (Swingers, Made), took on this holiday comedy starring Saturday Night Live-alum Will Ferrell. Ferrell stars as Buddy, a regular-sized man who was raised as an elf by Santa Claus (Edward Asner). When the news is finally broken to Buddy that he's not a real elf, he decides to head back to his place of birth, New York City, in search of his biological family. Elf also stars James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, and Bob
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Cast
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Will Ferrell
Buddy -
Edward Asner
Santa -
James Caan
Walter -
Mary Steenburgen
Emily -
Bob Newhart
Papa Elf -
Zooey Deschanel
Jovie -
Daniel Tay
Michael -
Faizon Love
Gimbels Manager -
Peter Dinklage
Miles Finch -
Amy Sedaris
Deb -
Michael Lerner
Fulton -
Andy Richter
Morris -
Jon Favreau
Doctor -
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Leon Redbone
Leon the Snowman -
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Elf Trailer & Photos
All Critics (171) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (147) | Rotten (28) | DVD (37)
A disarmingly funny holiday comedy.
Top CriticThe film soon bogs down in fake hugs and a fakier climax involving Santa (Ed Asner) and his downed sled.
Some humour might sail over the heads of the very young, but there's a higher chuckle rate for the grown-ups than much dread 'family' fare.
I love watching Ferrell do his gangly, clueless shtick, and even here, there's something inherently funny about just seeing him in a big, green elf suit. There's something inherently funny about Ferrell -- period.
A movie made by people who really have their thinking caps on.
Ferrell's stone-stupid sincerity keeps the action moving and irresistible, despite its familiarity.
Feels like that rare instant Christmas classic.
Amorphous and ill-formed, relying solely on the strength of the gags to win the day.
The third act's a little clumsy, but Elf brings the Christmas cheer and loads of laughs.
Peppy holiday favorite for both kids and parents.
A family-friendly, funny and heartwarming holiday film with a great heart that is well worth watching more than once.
What ultimately turns Elf from an okay movie to a good movie, is Will Ferrell.
Elf might be the last modern Christmas classic we see for a long time.
The sentiment gets a little sticky towards the end, but many will consider this the perfect antidote to traditional Christmas fare -- especially those with a fondness for Ferrell's comedy.
Delivers a warm, feel-good Christmas ending that will inspire the hope that even New York City can have Christmas spirit -- at least of the Hollywood kind.
Most will relate to its Christmas spirit, and there's unlikely to be a dry eye in the house during the emotional climax.
[An] amusing, sweet-natured ode to retro-Christmas warmth and cheer...
The result is a turkey.
A delightful, slapstick adventure about a naïve innocent, woefully ill equipped to handle the rigors of life inside any impatiently unforgiving metropolis.
Ferrell's man-child invites sympathy and sniggers, making this amusing despite some flimsy plotting. Sight gags and a Santa-centred story should keep the kids happy, too.
Elf does such a great job of winning you over early on that you'll gladly endure it.
Exudes genuine holiday cheer.
Audience Reviews for Elf
Super Reviewer
The way he gets over excited when he hears Santa is coming and when he mistakes a little person for one of Santa's little helpers...classic stuff. Of course like many other well known Christmas films is works because of the season, its Xmas, its in New York, you get that lovely warm feeling that the Big Apple seems to radiate at that time of year, it can't fail to win for both adults and kids.
You gotta be rather cold and miserable not to enjoy a silly jingle bells tale like this unless you really do hate Ferrell of course haha.
Super Reviewer
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- Jovie: What were you doing in the women's locker room this morning?
- Buddy: I heard you singing.
- Jovie: What about the fact that I was naked in the shower?
- Buddy: I didn't know you were naked.
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- Santa: Sorry Buddy but... your dad is on the naughty list.
- Buddy: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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- Buddy: [standing over another stall] Did you see these toilets they're ginormous!
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- Buddy: You sit on a throne of lies!
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- Buddy: This place reminds me of Santa's workshop. Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me.
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- Buddy: [Answers phone] Hello, this is Buddy. What's your favorite color?
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Latest News on Elf
June 14, 2010:
Elf: The Musical Is Broadway BoundA musical adaptation of Will Ferrell's "Elf" is headed for Broadway, with a planned November debut.
December 18, 2006:
RT's Top Yuletide Comedies -- Christmas Countdown, Day OneWelcome to RT's Five Days of Christmas Countdown, where we serve up a different list each day of the...
November 21, 2006:
Will Ferrell Refuses "Elf 2" and "Old School 2"There's been a few rumors flying around lately that Will Ferrell might be doing another...
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Foreign Titles
- Action Pack: Elf Quote-Along (DE)
- Action Pack: Elf Quote-Along (UK)
IThe premise is a fun take on the fish out of water tale, the script is mostly pretty sharp, and the central performance from Will Ferrell is one of the funniest comedic roles of all time. He absolutely sells it, and you honestly believe every minute of it, which is a Christmas miracle since it could have been so easy to mess up. He doesn't though, and it is an absolute joy to watch. James Caan is likewise pretty fun as Buddy's biological father Walter in the requisite Grinch/Scrooge type of role. Mary Steenburgen and Daniel Tay are decent as Walter's wife Emily and son Michael, and Zooey Deschanel is quite fine as Jovie- Buddy's love interest and co-worker at a department store. We also get Bob Newhart as Buddy's adoptive elf dad and Ed Asner as Santa. My favorite supporting character though has to be Faizon Love as the no-nonsense manager of the department store.
Like I said, the script is pretty sharp for the most part, but it's not perfect. The film is rather formulaic, and some of the stuff with Michael and Jovie fall a bit flat at times. The effects are mostly good, the music is fine, and overall this is a very delightful holiday film I solidly recommend.