Movie Review: Elf

Elf

After seeing previews that looked hiliarious, and deciding we just wanted to enjoy a fun evening at the theatre, several of us decided to see Elf this weekend. And after laughing hard enough to cry and leaving the theatre grinning from ear-to-ear, we're all glad we made the choice we did.

Will Ferrell is Buddy the Elf (named, believe it or not, for a brand of diapers). Adopted by elves as an orphan infant, he somehow manages to avoid having a clue he's not an elf until he's more than 6 feet tall and just about 30 years old. But once he finds out, Buddy simply has to pay a visit to his dad, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). So he leaves his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), and Santa's workshop for New York City, and that's when both the fun and the trouble begins.

Imagine for a moment that you know nothing about modern life in a big city. And then consider what you might think of an escalator or what might happen if you'd never seen a revolving door before. Imagine, too, what other people would think of a grown man wearing an elf costume and behaving with the utter honesty and abandon of a 5 year-old. Walter Hobbs, a workaholic with little time for family, doesn't know what to think of the son he never knew he had. His wife, Emily ( Mary Steenburgen) is determined to give Buddy a chance no matter what she thinks. And Buddy's younger half-brother, Michael (Daniel Tay) doesn't care what anybody thinks about the older brother he learns to love. Add a beautiful girl (Zooey Deschanel) and department store Santas standing in for the real jolly old elf (Edward Asner), and you'll begin to get an idea of what Elf is like.

The story is simplistic and sweet, but the execution is done with such joy and skill that this feel good movie makes you feel better than just good. I liked Elf a lot; the friends I was with loved it. So although it's a little early for the holiday season, go ahead and get the Christmas spirit early this year. You're sure to catch it from Elf.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Elf is rated PG for some mild language and rude humor. But there's not a thing in this movie that the average 5 year-old hasn't thought of if not tried, so I consider the movie suitable for all ages. If the kid is old enough to sit still for two hours, he's old enough for Elf. And trust me: Mom and Dad aren't too old.