A PREACH-FREE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? WHA....?

By: B -- 11/13/03

It seems Christmas movies are now as commercial as the holiday itself. There are, of course, no other options for filmmakers. If a director wants to spin a critically acclaimed, unique tale, he or she isn't going to base it around Christmas. It's a holiday for the masses , and so are the movies.

Consequently, expectations for Elf, the new holiday film starring Will Ferrell, are quite low. At least in terms of critical appeals. One shouldn't expect this to be groundbreaking, because that isn't what this movie even wants to do. By all expectations, this movie should be brain candy - something both kids and their parents enjoy. For the most part, Elf does just that.

Elf is the story of Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human who is adopted and raised by an elf (Bob Newhart). Once he is grown, he is twice the size of the other elves. After his father tells him he is a human, Buddy sets off to New York City during the holiday season to find his real father. He finds his family, meets a girl, learns life lessons, yada yada yada. The real story here, like all Christmas movies, is that Buddy needs to help people find their Christmas spirit. Clichés and predictable plot twists are the norm, but who would expect anything more?

The cast surrounding Will Ferrell is unchallenged but gives high-quality performances. James Caan plays Buddy's father, with Mary Steenburgen as his wife. Young fox Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous) plays Jovie, Buddy's love interest; her singing (is it really her?) is honestly worth the ticket price alone. Will Ferrell is great in this role. He pulls this off because he doesn't try too hard to get laughs, which is what good comedy is all about. His character is annoying and naïve, but almost impossible to dislike.

Critically, this movie is enjoyable but unspectacular. The storyline is easy, the twists predictable and the climax weak. There are a few enjoyable montages with Buddy in NYC, and there is a certain amount of bonding between Buddy and Jovie, and also between Buddy and his brother. Director Jon Favreau (Made) makes this work by keeping the laughs simple and making sure the story doesn't get too preachy.

The ending, however, journeys far into FantasyLand for anyone's good. For the most part, this movie was a comedy about Buddy adjusting to New York and showing everybody his real Christmas spirit. The climax ventures too far away from the mood and detracts from the rest of the movie.

In terms of pop appeal, it's hard to really dislike Elf. The innocence and unabashed spirit shown by Buddy eventually win over his friends and family. In the same token, that is the quality that wins over the viewers. It's silly, it's for kids, it's simple and clichéd, but it's just too charming to not like.

POP RATING: 7.5

CRITICAL RATING: 5

B'S RATING: 6.5

TAKE ME TO THE TOP