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Elf

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Elf (2003)

83%
80%
79%
N/A
N/A
N/A
83 %
Reviews Counted: 160 Fresh: 133  Rotten:27 Average Rating: 6.9/10
 
Consensus: Ferrell's funny and charming performance makes Elf a delightful Christmas comedy.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Synopsis: This holiday season, discover your inner elf! One Christmas Eve, a long time ago, a small baby at an orphanage crawled into Santa’s bag of toys, only to go undetected and accidentally carried back to Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Though he was quickly taken under the wing of a... This holiday season, discover your inner elf! One Christmas Eve, a long time ago, a small baby at an orphanage crawled into Santa’s bag of toys, only to go undetected and accidentally carried back to Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Though he was quickly taken under the wing of a surrogate father and raised to be an elf, as he grows to be three sizes larger than everyone else, it becomes clear that Buddy (Will Ferrell) will never truly fit into the elf world. What he needs is to find his real family. This holiday season, Buddy decides to find his true place in the world and sets off for New York City to track down his roots. Although Buddy experiences a world he never knew existed, he quickly learns that life in the big city is not all ice skating and sugarplums, and he finds himself as much an outsider there as back in the North Pole. Buddy seeks out his real father, Walter (James Caan), a workaholic publisher of children’s books with a place on Santa’s “naughty” list. Walter doesn’t believe Buddy is who or what he says he is; in fact, the only thing Walter believes in with any certainty is the bottom line. Buddy also discovers a new mom (Mary Steenburgen), and learns he has a ten-year-old half-brother (Daniel Tay) who doesn’t believe in Christmas or elves or Santa. In fact, everyone seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. With the holiday season fast approaching, Buddy takes it upon himself and his earnest elf ways to win over his family, realize his destiny and, ultimately, save Christmas for New York and the world. Will Ferrell (Old School, “Saturday Night Live”) stars as Buddy the elf in New Line Cinema’s family comedy Elf. Directed by Jon Favreau (Made) from an original script written by David Berenbaum (Disney’s upcoming The Haunted Mansion), the film features a stellar supporting cast that includes James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay, with Edward Asner (as Santa Claus) and Bob Newhart (as Papa Elf). Elf is a Guy Walks into a Bar production, produced by Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki and Shauna Robertson. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman, Cale Boyter, Jimmy Miller and Julie Wixson Darmody. The co-producer is David Householter. New Line Cinema will release Elf (rated PG by the M.P.A.A. for “some mild rude humor and language”) nationwide on November 7th, 2003. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner

Director: Jon Favreau
Screenwriter: David Berenbaum
Producer: Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki, Shauna Robertson
Composer: John Debney

DVD Info

Release:

Apr 10, 2005

[DVD Details]
  • Elf
  • This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.
  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Reviews

     
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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    Ratings Image
    N/A

    The result is a turkey.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/27/07
    Mark Kermode
    Guardian [UK]
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    Ferrell's man-child invites sympathy and sniggers, making this amusing despite some flimsy plotting. Sight gags and a Santa-centred story should keep the kids happy, too.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    12/30/06
    Anna Smith
    Empire Magazine
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    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Some humour might sail over the heads of the very young, but there's a higher chuckle rate for the grown-ups than much dread 'family' fare.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/26/06
    Trevor Johnston
    Time Out
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    Ratings Image
    2/5

    With a little tweaking, this could be a horror film.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/15/04
    Peter Bradshaw
    Guardian [UK]
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    Ratings Image
    3/5

    It's a bracingly subversive story told with tongue firmly in cheek.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/18/03
    Neil Smith
    BBC
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    Ratings Image
    4/5

    That rarest of beasts: an extremely funny Christmas-themed family comedy with a great script and a performance of comedy gold from Will Ferrell.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/15/03
    Matthew Turner
    ViewLondon
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    Yes, the story is truly silly, but it maintains a timeless quality that lets us suspend our cynical disbelief.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/12/03
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    Click to read the article

    Full Review | comment Comment
    12/27/07
    Joe Lozito
    Big Picture Big Sound
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    The film soon bogs down in fake hugs and a fakier climax involving Santa (Ed Asner) and his downed sled.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/27/07
    J. R. Jones
    Chicago Reader
    Ratings Image
    4/4

    A delightful, slapstick adventure about a naïve innocent, woefully ill equipped to handle the rigors of life inside any impatiently unforgiving metropolis.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/25/07
    Kam Williams
    Afro-American
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    Si usted desea una -siempre saludable- dosis de espíritu navideño y comedia sana, envueltas en una historia predecible pero contada con talento, vaya a ver Elf.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/02/06
    Flavio J. Arosemena
    Doncinema.com
    Ratings Image
    B+

    Exudes genuine holiday cheer.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/03/05
    Nick Schager
    Lessons of Darkness
    Ratings Image
    4.5/5

    For those of you with a belly laugh on your wish list, Christmas has come early this year.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/15/04
    Sean O'Connell
    Filmcritic.com
    Ratings Image
    9/10

    This is a family picture that everyone should enjoy.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/07/04
    Tony Medley
    tonymedley.com
    Ratings Image
    3.5/5

    A charming, wholesome Christmas film with a lot of holiday spirit.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    08/13/04
    Mark Sells
    Oregon Herald
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    I love watching Ferrell do his gangly, clueless shtick, and even here, there’s something inherently funny about just seeing him in a big, green elf suit. There’s something inherently funny about Ferrell -- period.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    08/07/04
    Peter Rainer
    New York Magazine
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    I can't believe Gnome Alone with Will Ferrell is my third favorite Christmas movie.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/16/04
    Martin Scribbs
    Low IQ Canadian
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Elf is no great gift, but it’s cheery enough that you probably won’t ask for your money back.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    02/09/04
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    It's just good, clean fun.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/15/04
    Kim Linekin
    eye WEEKLY
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Ferrell is lunatic perfect, skirting the sillier sentimentality of the story, while never missing an opportunity to indulge in its darker, more ridiculous excesses.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    12/31/03
    Prairie Miller
    Long Island Press
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