Elf (2003)

December 22, 2017 11:59 AM

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity.

Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen and Zooey Deschanel

4 stars and 7 plus from Common Sense Media, 84/78 on rotten tomatoes

21 Things You Might Not Know About Elf

WHAT MAKES WILL FERRELL’S ELF A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC?

The biggest testament to Elf‘s greatness is how quickly it became a permanent member of the Christmas movie pantheon. Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie only came out in 2003, but it’s already entrenched as a definitive part of our yearly holiday viewing tradition. So how did it manage to do that in such a short time? It has an amazing cast, two of the best settings for any Christmas movie possible–the North Pole and New York City–and an original, expertly written script. It’s a pure delight from start to finish with one of the best Christmas characters ever at the heart of it all.

posted by the man of twists and turns (15 comments total)

This is hands down the #1 must-see Christmas movie for me. Instant classic. Just...pretty much perfect.
posted by the webmistress at 4:42 PM on December 22, 2017 [3 favorites]

This and Stranger than Fiction are pretty much the only two movies where I can tolerate Will Ferrell.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 4:59 PM on December 22, 2017 [4 favorites]

Stranger Than Fiction was awesome.

I don't know what it is about Elf that hits all the right notes. Just a great combination of everything :)
posted by Calzephyr at 5:49 PM on December 22, 2017

So glad Ferrell passed on Elf 2. This one is too perfect!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:19 PM on December 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'm watching it tonight with my kids. It's replaced Love Actually which has not aged well (except for Emma Thompson) as my perfect holiday film.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:50 PM on December 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

Will Ferrell just plays the role with such conviction. That's what makes it for me. Plus, Amy Sedaris!
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 7:47 PM on December 22, 2017 [4 favorites]

I really like this movie. So much so that I still like it despite the fact that it was playing on a constant loop in the breakroom during the Christmas season when I worked at a toy store.
posted by drezdn at 8:03 PM on December 22, 2017

Favorite line, perfectly delivered:

Buddy: SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:04 PM on December 22, 2017 [9 favorites]

Bob Newhart steals this entire movie.
posted by Sphinx at 10:46 PM on December 22, 2017 [5 favorites]

i'll just drop in to note that while the film may be unaware of its profundity as a movie about adoption, it is one of the best movies about being adopted ever made.
posted by mwhybark at 7:01 AM on December 23, 2017 [14 favorites]

YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES!

I often spend Will Farrell movies feeling like each scene has allllllmost set up something really funny, yet doesn't deliver, but there are some classic lines in this one.
posted by praemunire at 7:17 PM on December 23, 2017 [2 favorites]

Smiling is my favorite thing.

Make work your favorite thing.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:31 PM on December 23, 2017 [5 favorites]

Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?

Oh, I don't know Connie, I've never declawed kittens before.
posted by cooker girl at 6:16 AM on December 24, 2017 [3 favorites]

I'm not the only one who has noticed that James Caan and Daniel Tay are supposed to be Jewish in this film, am I?

I wrote a whole essay on it.
posted by maxsparber at 2:28 PM on December 26, 2017 [7 favorites]

The Ralphie from Christmas Story cameo is my favorite easter egg in Elf.
posted by mumblelard at 2:29 PM on January 1, 2018 [2 favorites]