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Consider this Will Ferrell's formal introduction to the American people. He began as one of the few bright spots on a flounding Saturday Night Live (Spartan cheerleaders, anyone?), but also led the show's brief return to hilarity during the 2000 Presidental election, during which he portrayed George W. Bush with a perfect mix of realism and cartoonish caricature.
His work (rightfully) earned him an Emmy nomination in 2001; a rarity for an SNL cast regular (there've been three in the last fifteen years, by my count). And while the Academy won't be recognizing his turn as a human who thinks he's an elf, America will.
Elf is the story of a man (Buddy) who, as a baby, crawls into Santa's sack, and is, of course, subsequently raised by elves. Or, rather, by "Papa Elf," played with a straight face (but pointy shoes) by Bob Newhart. Newhart is perfectly cast, but make no mistake: this is Will Ferrell's movie. Everyone knows it; especially Ferrell, who brings his trademark enthusiasm with him.
James Caan does fine as his reluctant father and straight man, and Zooey Deschanel serves as a reasonably believable love interest. And Ed Asner, as it turns out, makes a fine Santa Claus.
The film's highlights include a confrontation with a vertically-challenged children's author and Buddy's discovery that the department store Santa is a fraud. The comedy from both comes from the fact that, from his perspective, Buddy's acting in a completely sensible manner. Everything he does, no matter how goofy, makes sense given his circumstances. This is the essence of the "fish out of water" comedy, and something that is occasionally lost on other films in the genre.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, except to say that it, like most good Christmas movies, involves Christmas spirit, and takes after its protagonist in being infectiously good-natured. It's hard not to liken Ferrell to Jim Carrey back in his Ace Ventura days. Carrey, we've since learned, is perfectly capable of taking on more subdued, understated roles. I'd wager that Ferrell can -- and will -- as well, but that both of them had to shout (both literally and figuratively) to get the public's attention, first.
Ferrell's brand of comedy is based in part on the principle that yelling at just the right volume and pitch, at just the right moment, can be hilarious. If most comedians base their schtick around comic timing, and Adam Sandler bases his around screaming at the top of his lungs, then Ferrell is the hysterical synthesis between the two. He's willing to make a spectacle of himself, but as mentioned before, it's never without reason. Virtually every absurdity in Elf is something you could reasonably expect from someone in Buddy's position.
Elf is delightful holiday movie that, ironically, was released a month and a half before the holiday it's centered around. Regardless of the reasoning (or lack thereof) behind this decision, it's hard not to get in the spirit of things while watching it, even if the topic is premature.
His work (rightfully) earned him an Emmy nomination in 2001; a rarity for an SNL cast regular (there've been three in the last fifteen years, by my count). And while the Academy won't be recognizing his turn as a human who thinks he's an elf, America will.
Elf is the story of a man (Buddy) who, as a baby, crawls into Santa's sack, and is, of course, subsequently raised by elves. Or, rather, by "Papa Elf," played with a straight face (but pointy shoes) by Bob Newhart. Newhart is perfectly cast, but make no mistake: this is Will Ferrell's movie. Everyone knows it; especially Ferrell, who brings his trademark enthusiasm with him.
James Caan does fine as his reluctant father and straight man, and Zooey Deschanel serves as a reasonably believable love interest. And Ed Asner, as it turns out, makes a fine Santa Claus.
The film's highlights include a confrontation with a vertically-challenged children's author and Buddy's discovery that the department store Santa is a fraud. The comedy from both comes from the fact that, from his perspective, Buddy's acting in a completely sensible manner. Everything he does, no matter how goofy, makes sense given his circumstances. This is the essence of the "fish out of water" comedy, and something that is occasionally lost on other films in the genre.
I won't reveal any more of the plot, except to say that it, like most good Christmas movies, involves Christmas spirit, and takes after its protagonist in being infectiously good-natured. It's hard not to liken Ferrell to Jim Carrey back in his Ace Ventura days. Carrey, we've since learned, is perfectly capable of taking on more subdued, understated roles. I'd wager that Ferrell can -- and will -- as well, but that both of them had to shout (both literally and figuratively) to get the public's attention, first.
Ferrell's brand of comedy is based in part on the principle that yelling at just the right volume and pitch, at just the right moment, can be hilarious. If most comedians base their schtick around comic timing, and Adam Sandler bases his around screaming at the top of his lungs, then Ferrell is the hysterical synthesis between the two. He's willing to make a spectacle of himself, but as mentioned before, it's never without reason. Virtually every absurdity in Elf is something you could reasonably expect from someone in Buddy's position.
Elf is delightful holiday movie that, ironically, was released a month and a half before the holiday it's centered around. Regardless of the reasoning (or lack thereof) behind this decision, it's hard not to get in the spirit of things while watching it, even if the topic is premature.