Elf

What's the Plot?

A long time ago, a child snuck into Santa's (Edward Asner) toy sack when he was "delivering" at an orphanage. Undetected, the child was taken back to the North Pole where Santa's trusted helper, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), took him under his wing and brought him up as an elf. But as he grew up - 3 times larger than the other elves! - Buddy (Will Ferrell) realised that he doesn't really belong. So he decides to travel to New York to find his parents and a place where he can fit in. However, when he does find his parents, Buddy is shocked to discover that his father, Walter (James Cann), doesn't believe in anything that he says and also exists on Santa's "naughty list." His new mother (Mary Steenburgen) and his 10 year old half-brother (Daniel Tay) not only don't believe in Santa or elves, but Christmas as well ! Since Buddy knows Santa personally, he realises that it's up to him to restore people's faith in Christmas and Santa, but in a town like New York, that's gonna be hard for a human that was raised by elves in the North Pole.

The Review

Will Ferrell was on TV's Saturday Night Live. Did mature-humoured films such as Old School and One Night At The Roxbury. Now can be seen doing a wider audience reaching role as a child-like adult. Tom Hanks was on Saturday Night Live. Did mature-themed films such as Bachelor Party and Volunteers. Then did a wider reaching role as a child-like adult and got an Oscar nomination - Big. Ferrell's Elf nods to Hanks' perfect performance but nothing more. He is able to cute, and at times has wonderment and awe down to a tee, but it's the lack of consistent storyline that becomes his downfall.

But, let's face it, you're not going to see Elf for powerhouse acting, are you? This is a kid's movie, that thankfully follows the trend that the great Disney pictures and Pixar films have reaped the rewards from: something for the little ones and their accompanying adults. So, while the children get cinema's largest burp, throwing up in bins after going round revolving doors really fast, the adults get the "Ring Wraiths" of Central Park - mounted Police that went OTT at a Simon & Garfunkel concert - friendly advice from a snowman telling Buddy not to eat the "yellow snow!"

All the staple ingredients for a warm and fuzzy family flick are present: younger brother who is eventually won over by his new big brother's persistance; a distant father who has to choose between family and work; a beautiful girl who gives the hero a try despite his weirdness and helps him save the day and of course the knowledge that Christmas spirit will always prevail, especially in a town such as New York. Funny in places, sometimes quiet chuckling and sometimes genuinely laugh-out-loud, Elf delivers exactly what you would expect a Xmas family flick to do, so go on and put the Xmas shopping crush on hold for an hour and a half. Ho! Ho! Ho!

STEVE'S SCORE