Elf is by far one of my favorite Christmas movies. Because kids are the targeted audience, the acting isn’t the best, but it is still extremely enjoyable.
One thing many people probably don’t know is that Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man and Cowboys and Aliens, also directed Elf. Along with directing, he also plays the doctor the doctor who gives the paternity test.
Once again, Will Ferrell is playing his usual perfect role, which he does flawlessly. His roles usually consist of dumb jokes and hilarious lines, but this movie also shows a more sensitive side of Ferrell. Along with Everything Must Go (which was a disaster) and Stranger Than Fiction (one of my favorites), Elf shows a more fragile version of Ferrell which brings a wonderful change to his routine.
One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Buddy (Ferrell) says, “I think you have the most beautiful singing voice in the whole wide world,” to Jovie (Deschanel). I love this because Deschanel is actually a famous singer for the band She and Him. The casting for Jovie is perfect because she is a character who is a wonderful singer but is nervous about singing in public. I would have to agree with Buddy that she has one of the most beautiful singing voices in the world.
Also, I found it humorous that Emily Hobbs (Mary Steenburgen) is Ferrell’s adopted mother because she plays his mother in the movie Stepbrothers. Once again, she plays a mother who is loving, caring, and extremely supportive.
I am surprised when I saw the wonderful use of forced perspective in the film. This was used whenever the elves and Buddy were in scenes together. With a steady camera, the elves would be a great distance away from Will Ferrell in order to make the viewer think that they were smaller. This was also used in the Lord of the Rings franchise with hobbits and humans.
Overall, I would have to say that this is a modern day Christmas classic that will be watched for many years to come due to the wonderful writing and acting.
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