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Elf (2003)

tomatometer

84

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 168
Fresh: 141 | 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.

77

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 39
Fresh: 30 | 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.

audience

73

liked it
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

PG, 1 hr. 36 min.

Comedy, Kids & Family

Jon Favreau, David Berenbaum

Nov 16, 2004

$173.4M

New Line Cinema

Cast

All Critics (171) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (143) | Rotten (28) | DVD (36)

The film soon bogs down in fake hugs and a fakier climax involving Santa (Ed Asner) and his downed sled.

November 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (5)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A movie made by people who really have their thinking caps on.

November 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment (1)
Salon.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Ferrell's stone-stupid sincerity keeps the action moving and irresistible, despite its familiarity.

November 7, 2003 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Funny and intelligently made, a film for kids and adults that's both sweet and sardonic.

November 7, 2003 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment (1)
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film works not only as an innocuous family movie, but also as something of a hipster's pipe dream.

November 7, 2003 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Amorphous and ill-formed, relying solely on the strength of the gags to win the day.

November 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | Comment

The third act's a little clumsy, but Elf brings the Christmas cheer and loads of laughs.

November 18, 2010 Full Review Source: IGN DVD | Comment
IGN DVD

Peppy holiday favorite for both kids and parents.

August 31, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Elf might be the last modern Christmas classic we see for a long time.

December 16, 2008 Full Review Source: What Would Toto Watch? | Comments (3)
What Would Toto Watch?

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.

December 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment (1)

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.

October 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment
Decent Films Guide

Most will relate to its Christmas spirit, and there's unlikely to be a dry eye in the house during the emotional climax.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

[An] amusing, sweet-natured ode to retro-Christmas warmth and cheer...

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

The result is a turkey.

November 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | Comments (4)
Guardian [UK]

A delightful, slapstick adventure about a naïve innocent, woefully ill equipped to handle the rigors of life inside any impatiently unforgiving metropolis.

May 25, 2007 Comment
Afro-American

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.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

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.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Exudes genuine holiday cheer.

May 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | Comment
Lessons of Darkness
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Elf

The single biggest problem with most Christmas films is that they have little or nothing to do with Christmas. We can argue about the pagan origins of Christmas paraphernalia until we are blue in the face, but beneath the gifts and the Queen's speech, like it or not, is a celebration of Jesus' birth, of God coming to

December 6, 2011
Daniel Mumby
Daniel Mumby

Super Reviewer

Upon second viewing I absolutely loved it. A brilliant christmas film for all the family which really sets you up for a good christmas. The characters are great and really gel with each other and have good chemistry which is important in a film about relationships with the people around you. Great film.

March 18, 2007
StarCrossedVoyager
Sophie Burgess

Super Reviewer

    1. Buddy: Son of a nutcracker!
    – Submitted by Skipper K (15 days ago)
    1. Buddy: SANTA OH MY GOD... I KNOW HIM!
    – Submitted by Nicole S (44 days ago)
    1. Buddy: [sees a short person] YOU'RE AN ELF!
    – Submitted by Manny S (2 months ago)
    1. Leon the Snowman: At least you have a Dad. I just got rolled up and placed in the cold.
    – Submitted by Sydney S (2 months ago)
    1. Gimbels Manager: Six-inch ribbon curls, honey.
    2. Jovie: That's impossible.
    3. Gimbels Manager: SIX... inches.
    4. Jovie: [sighs]
    – Submitted by Anthony A (2 months ago)

Latest News for Elf

June 14, 2010:
Elf: The Musical Is Broadway Bound
A 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 One
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Foreign Titles

  • Elfe (FR)
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