ELF
Will Ferrell is insane, but his craziness is infectious!ELF will win you over long before Santa comes to town, thanks to 'Buddy' (Will Ferrell) , the human-sized elf, and lots of reindeer-sized laughs!
3 stars (out of 4) - [(2003)US-Germany/New Line Cinema/Rated PG] - (1 hr. 37 min.)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Screenplay by David Berenbaum
Character/Cast
Buddy - Will Ferrell
Santa - Edward Asner
Jovie - Zooey Deschanel
Review:
Whether the idea of a really tall elf tickles your funnybone or not, Will Ferrell ("Old School") is prepared to go the distance to get you to laugh...and sooner or later you will.
Also, fans of up and coming comic actress Zooey Deschanel ("All the Real Girls") will be pleased to see her light up the screen once again as the jaded Xmas worker who (like the audience) is won over by the over-sized man in a green suit. Plus she sings too!
Check it out, if you've got any kind of a sense of holiday humor this one is worth a look!
[Note: If this one doesn't get your favorite Grinch or Scrooge-type to giggle then head over to "Bad Santa," that movie is the anti-ELF!!!]
Supporting cast
Emily - Mary Steenburgen
Walter - James Caan
Papa Elf - Bob Newhart
Michael - Daniel Tay
Gimbels Manager - Faizon Love
Miles Finch - Peter Dinklage
Deb - Amy Sedaris
Fulton - Michael Lerner
Morris - Andy Richter
Doctor - Jon Favreau
Soundtrack info (courtesy of IMDbPRO.com)
Please note that songs listed here (and in the movie credits) cannot always be found on CD soundtracks. Please check CD track details for confirmation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Pennies From Heaven" (1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Louis Prima
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sleigh Ride" (1948)
Written by Leroy Anderson
Performed by Art Ferrante (as Ferrente) & Lou Teicher (as Teicher)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Santa Claus Party"
Written by Eddie Pola and George Wyle
Performed by Les Baxter
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Santa Baby" (1953)
Written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer (as Phil Springer) and Tony Springer
Performed by Eartha Kitt
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label, a unit of BMG
Under license from BMG Film & Television Music
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a" (1891-2)
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (uncredited)
Performed by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Courtesy of Surfdog Records
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (1949)
Written by Frank Loesser
Performed by Will Ferrell, Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sleigh Ride" (1948)
Written by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald & The Frank DeVol Orchestra
Courtesy of The Verve Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jingle Bell Rock" (1957)
Written by Joseph Beal and James Boothe (as Jim Boothe)
Performed by Wayne Newton
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What Christmas Means to Me" (1967)
Written by George Gordy, Allen Story and Anna Gordy Gaye
Performed by Stevie Wonder
Courtesy of Motown Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Christmas Island" (1946)
Written by Lyle Moraine
Performed by Leon Redbone
Courtesy of August Records
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Brollic"
Written by Ft and Marvin Gaye
Performed by Ft (as FT)
Courtesy of Tru Criminal Records/New Line Records
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing from Nothing" (1974)
Written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher
Performed by Billy Preston
Courtesy of A&M Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Christmas Stylee" (1992)
Written by Johnnie Osbourne and Clement Dodd
Performed by Johnnie Osbourne
Courtesy of Heartbeat Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whoomp! There It Is" (1993)
Written by Stephen Gibson and Cecil Glenn
Performed by Tag Team
Courtesy of DM Records, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You Make Me Feel So Young" (1946)
Music by Josef Myrow
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (1934)
Written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie
Sung by Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen and Chorus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Winter Wonderland" (1934)
Music by Felix Bernard
Lyrics by Richard B. Smith (as Dick Smith)
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Ray Charles Enterprises Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (1949)
Written by Frank Loesser
Performed by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
Leon Redbone appears courtesy of August Records
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Pop! Goes the Weasel" (uncredited)
Traditional 17th century English song
Played by the Jack-in-the-Box music boxes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Auld Lang Syne"
(1788) (uncredited)
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Played on piano by James Caan and
Sung by Zooey Deschanel
FAN BONUS: The lovely Zooey Deschanel (as 'Jovie') proves she can sing almost as well as she can act!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++