Review: Elf (***)

ELF
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): ***


So are what the four basic food groups? Well, as any elf knows, they a
candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup. If you thought ELF, by director
Jon Favreau (MADE), might be cause for sugar overload, you'd be wrong. Sure
it's sweet, but it's never cloying. A hilariously funny and absolutely
precious family film, ELF is lots of fun even if you don't have any kids to
take along. After seeing the movie with several adults, none less than
fortysomething, we had a blast on the way home in the van, remembering the
times when we laughed the most.



ELF stars Will Ferrell as the adorable Buddy. Ferrell is a good comedian
who frequently gets parts, as in OLD SCHOOL, that aren't quite right for
him. ELF is a movie that seems tailor-made for his comedic schtick. The
plot has human orphan Buddy being raised by elves at the North Pole. Way
too big for his work environment, Buddy is sent to New York City by Santa
Claus (Edward Asner). Santa wants Buddy to meet the father (James Caan) he
never knew, but Santa warns Buddy that his father is on the official Naughty
List. Buddy's mother died long ago, and his father isn't aware that they
had a child together.



In this fish-out-of-water story, Buddy, a man who acts like a child, ends up
getting a job working in the Christmas department of a large store. While
working there, he finds his first girlfriend in Jovie (Zooey Deschanel, the
sarcastic clerk in THE GOOD GIRL). Jovie doesn't take her job nearly as
seriously as Buddy does. His overnight makeover for the Xmas department
includes reproducing the Mona Lisa with an Etch-a-Sketch and creating the
New York skyline with Lego blocks.



Buddy has a child-like innocence and amazement with the world. When he sees
a cheap cafe featuring the "world's best coffee," he stops in to
congratulate the establishment on their award, as the patrons stare in utter
disbelief. And, although Santa warned him that the stuff stuck on the
ground is gum and not free candy, he can't help trying it.



The supporting cast is all good, with the biggest surprise coming from THE
STATION AGENT's star, Peter Dinklage. I will not give away what part this
extra short actor plays, but it is definitely not an elf.



You never know about the power of marketing, but I still have trouble
believing that even an aggressive campaign by a syrup company will be able
to sell Buddy's new favorite breakfast to the public. Pouring heavy syrup
over spaghetti with tomato sauce is a breakfast that even a toddler would
have trouble liking. This good-spirited, crowd-pleaser of a picture is
something that you will have no trouble loving. Our packed audience
certainly did.



ELF runs 1:35. The film is rated PG for "some mild rude humor and language"
and would be acceptable for all ages.



The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, November 7, 2003.
In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century
theaters.



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