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Topic: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy (Read 504 times)

Rhune
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Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« on: Nov 7^th, 2003, 9:01pm »

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Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
Movie full of scene-stealers, but Ferrell comes out on top
By Christy Lemire
Associated Press
Friday, November 7, 2003 Posted: 6:57 AM EST (1157 GMT)

(AP) -- Buddy the Elf, a thirtysomething man who's enjoyed a blissfully naive existence cobbling toys at the North Pole, craves any food loaded with sugar.

He covers a plate of pasta with jelly beans, Pop Tart pieces and maple syrup, then gleefully crams fistfuls of the glucose-infused glop into his mouth. And that's just for breakfast.

"Elf" director Jon Favreau goes easier on the sweet stuff, however. He has made a Christmas movie that's almost edgy. And as Buddy, Will Ferrell brings a boundless boyish enthusiasm to the role that's infectious.

It's a joy to watch Ferrell in action -- and he's constantly in action, thanks to his perpetual sugar rush -- because he seems to have genuine affection for this character. He never plays down to Buddy, never treats him like he's slow or goofy. He plays him like an innocent kid stuck inside a 6-foot-3 man's body, and he makes you want to wrap your arms around him and protect him from the Scrooges outside the walls of Santa's workshop.

As a "Saturday Night Live" alum, he clearly has no qualms about making a fool of himself for the big laugh.

"Elf" begins with a flashback, narrated by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), which explains how Buddy sneaked into Santa's toy sack as an orphaned infant on Christmas Eve. Upon returning to the North Pole, Santa (a wonderfully unjolly Ed Asner) decides the boy should stay, and the elves raise him as one of their own.

Making it in New York
After a lifetime of crouching through tiny elfin doorways and squatting on tiny elfin chairs, Buddy is shocked to learn he's not an elf -- he's a grown man with a father in New York City who doesn't know he exists. So he sets out to find Walter (James Caan), even though the callous children's book publisher is on the naughty list.

David Berenbaum's script really picks up, and the best sight gags and fish-out-of-water jokes come, after Buddy hits Manhattan (which he reaches by creeping carefully through the Lincoln Tunnel). He bounces through the city in his uniform -- festive green jacket, yellow tights, pointy green hat -- spinning through revolving doors and waving at hardened New Yorkers.

"I just like to smile," he responds when asked why he always appears so happy. "Smiling's my favorite."

Walter thinks Buddy's a nut when he shows up in full yuletide splendor at his Empire State Building publishing office, but has to accept him when a blood test proves this person is indeed his son. Walter's wife and son (Mary Steenburgen and Daniel Tay, among the solid supporting cast) eventually warm to him, too.

Nice supporting turns
Speaking of the supporting cast, many of the choices are totally genius. Besides Newhart and Asner, Zooey Deschanel charms as the fair-haired object of Buddy's affections, and Andy Richter and Kyle Gass have some funny scenes as Walter's useless underlings.

But as an egomaniacal children's book author -- a dwarf whom Buddy mistakes for an elf -- Peter Dinklage seizes the scene he's in and doesn't let go. It would have been a disarming performance anyway, but it's especially forceful compared to the quiet dignity he brought this year to his starring role in "The Station Agent."

Sure, "Elf" feels a little too feel-good at the end, but what do you expect? It's a Christmas movie! Anything else would be the cinematic equivalent of finding coal in your stocking.

"Elf," a New Line Cinema release, is rated PG for some mild rude humor and language. New Line Cinema is a division of Time Warner, as is CNN.

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Rhune
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #1 on: Nov 7^th, 2003, 9:10pm »

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A chat with Will Ferrell
Enjoying the party, and taking 'some silverware and towels'
By Stephanie Snipes
CNN
Friday, November 7, 2003 Posted: 10:45 AM EST (1545 GMT)

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Will Ferrell has played George W. Bush, Alex Trebek, James Lipton and Craig the cheerleader. Now he's walking the streets of New York City in yellow tights and a pointy green hat.

That's right, Will Ferrell, "Saturday Night Live" alum and "Old School" streaker, has moved to the next phase of his career -- North Pole reject, in the new movie "Elf."

With 10 projects in the works, including a movie version of "Bewitched" co-starring Nicole Kidman, Ferrell has become one of the hottest actors in Hollywood.

CNN sat down with the actor to discuss his career.

CNN: Do you have mixed feelings about leaving "Saturday Night Live"?

WILL FERRELL: No. It was the right time to go. I could tell. Seven years was perfect. I definitely wanted to be thought of as leaving at the right time or too early as opposed to too late.

CNN: Why do you think some SNL alums transition easily into film while others vanish into oblivion?

FERRELL: I don't really know the theory on that. It's such a crapshoot. You think of Adam Sandler and Mike Myers as being examples of people going on and the only thing I can think that sets them apart is that they had a hand in developing [their careers], either by writing ... or knowing the writers really well. You have to be involved at least on some level to ensure that it's reflective of your voice, and then you either sink or swim.

CNN: How is playing a lead role different from the other parts you've played?

FERRELL: You just have to maintain a consistency in the performance. You're obviously more in the spotlight so any deviation becomes a lot more apparent whereas in an ensemble film you don't have to worry so much. But I didn't approach it any differently then I would any other movie.

CNN: How does it feel to be quoted by fans?

FERRELL: It's so bizarre. Often times I'm confronted with a quote that I don't remember saying. So, on one hand it's very flattering, it is just so surreal. I ran the Boston Marathon this year ... and from beginning to end there were "Frank the Tank" signs and people were yelling, "You're my boy blue!" Fraternity guys were running next to me with their buddy running ahead and taking photos. It was great fun but I just kept laughing the whole time.

CNN: Are you able to get used to that kind of attention?

FERRELL: I don't know if it's anything you ever really get used to ... there's a part of me that doesn't really take all of this so seriously because I think if I did I'd get to nervous, and the pressure would just collapse me. I really have felt like it's a private party that I've gotten in to and I'm just waiting to get kicked out. I'm trying to eat as much food off the buffet table as I can, and [I'm going to] take some silverware and towels.

CNN: Can you tell us what your new Woody Allen film is about?

FERRELL: That's a good question. I'm in the midst of it and I don't even know. I actually got to read the whole script but then it was taken away from me. I only got like eight hours. Someone asked me if I thought to photocopy it, I was like "no, I should have done that." Knowing Woody Allen he probably has some kind of paper that explodes when you photocopy it.

CNN: Are you excited to be working with Allen?

FERRELL: I'm battling between "Wow, this is a great experience" to "Wow, this is totally miscast, they should have gone with Robert Downey Jr."

CNN: You've said you'd like your career to go like Bill Murray's. Can you elaborate on that?

FERRELL: I'd love to become like Bill Murray, who was so funny on "Saturday Night Live" and has gone on to do some of the landmark comedies people like. And then to add this whole other phase to his career with "Lost in Translation" and "Rushmore." I always felt to be able to have something similar to that would be great.

CNN: You've just been cast in the movie version of "A Confederacy of Dunces" [as distinctive protagonist Ignatius J. Reilly]. Are you worried about what fans of the book will think of you in the role?

FERRELL: Whether good judgment or not, I'm not afraid to do something. That doesn't mean that I'm not aware of the fact that I can do a movie like ["Dunces"] and the purists could be like "Why? Why is it him?" I'm definitely aware of that, but I really can't worry about it too much. And you could probably name 10 other people who could play Ignatius and I would agree with you that they should probably do it.

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Rhune
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #2 on: Nov 8^th, 2003, 6:31pm »

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NYC Mayor Declares Today 'Elf Day'
Fri, Nov 07, 2003, 06:11 AM PT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared Friday, (Nov. 7) "Elf Day" in New York City. The holiday comedy "Elf," which was shot partially in New York City, opens wide in theaters today.

Directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell and James Caan, "Elf" is the story of baby Buddy, who accidentally lands in one of Santa's bags and ends up at the North Pole to live out his childhood. Once grown, Buddy (Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his biological father (Caan).

hot in New York for approximately two weeks, utilizing such locations as Bethesda Fountain, Belvedere Castle and Pinebank Arch in Central Park, the Empire State Building and the Queensboro Bridge.

Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a unique collaboration to promote toy drives with New Line Cinema, and kicked off the holiday season by donating 200 toys to the annual "Today" show toy drive.

In coordination with the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, New Line Cinema is giving to the city by arranging for "elves" in taxis to deliver 200 gifts to children at seven different childcare centers operated by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS.)

"Not only does 'Elf' help us to rediscover New York as the most cinematic city in the world, it reminds us that it is the most magical location during the holidays," says Bloomberg. "We are also delighted to be joining with New Line Cinema in this opportunity to promote toy drives during the holiday season."

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LJB
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #3 on: Sep 30^th, 2005, 6:47pm »

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I loved this movie! Cool

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yesteach
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #4 on: Oct 2^nd, 2005, 1:25pm »

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One of the few movies I HAD to own... I LOVE Elf... it's not Christmas until we've watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf.. :-D

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LJB
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #5 on: Oct 2^nd, 2005, 2:49pm »

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i watch it every day i dont care if its not christmas lol!

:elf:

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yesteach
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Re: Review: 'Elf' hilarious and goofy
« Reply #6 on: Oct 2^nd, 2005, 4:39pm »

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LOL.. I totally understand.. I just watched "The Grinch" a few weeks ago (the cartoon one, as it's the real one...

)

« Last Edit: Oct 2^nd, 2005, 4:40pm by yesteach »

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