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Elf is genuinely good. Not just
Saturday Night Live-movie good, when the movie has some funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity;
Elf is a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who returns to the human world to find his father. And because the writing, directing, and acting are all genuinely good,
Elf is also genuinely funny. Will Ferrell, as Buddy the adopted elf, is hysterically sincere. James Caan, as his rediscovered father, executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel, as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love, is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (
Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that's sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly,
Elf feels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Ed Asner as Santa Claus.
--Bret Fetzer
Stills from Elf (click for larger image)
Will Ferrell with training wheels. The rambunctious comedian gives a funny, half-throttle performance as Buddy, a human raised by the elves at the North Pole. This good-spirited holiday comedy was directed by Jon Favreau, with nary a wannabe mobster or a swinger in sight. Even when Buddy comes to New York City, the movie is happy and chipper, with plenty of homages to Christmas movies past. The best scenes are a montage with Ferrell elfing around on the city streets, and his showdown with Peter Dinklage, in at least his third role as a touchy dwarf. -Michael Agger
Copyright © 2006
The New Yorker