Holiday film ‘Elf’ gets better with age
When it comes to holiday film favorites, there’s no shortage of titles.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” remain vintage favorites, while Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” retains its 1954 feel. “A Christmas Story” grows in appeal each year, couples have the romantic comedy “Best Man Holiday,” contemporary audiences have “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas,” and families can celebrate “Home Alone,” “Arthur Christmas” and “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Chevy Chase fans can enjoy his best work as he plays a frazzled father seeking a perfect holiday in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
For me, the holiday movie that gets better with age is 2003’s heartfelt and funny “Elf” ($12.99, DVD; $24.99, Blu-ray Disc/DVD combo in a steel-case), starring Will Ferrell in the title role as Buddy, a person who was raised by elves at the North Pole. He then embarks on an odyssey to New York City to find his birth father (a-steam-coming-out-of-his-ears James Caan).
“Elf,” directed by Jon Favreau, works extremely well due to the smart casting of the sweet and innocent Ferrell (in a role originally designed for Jim Carrey, who left for another project). His scenes opposite the short-tempered and tightly wound Caan, who often looks ready to explode, are consistently funny without ever being mean-spirited.
Also adding to the fun is Zooey Deschanel as a toy-department employee attracted to the outsider who dresses as an elf in an outfit. His look was inspired by the attire of the characters from the stop-motion-animation TV favorite “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
According to the website THE FW, studio chiefs were anxious to film a sequel in light of the PG-rated original’s global appeal. Box Office Mojo reported its gross as $220,443,451in theaters and more profits via video, cable, stage shows and video-on-demand. Ferrell was reportedly offered $29 million to recreate the role but refused, believing that the film is a gem that stands on its own and could be damaged by follow-ups.
As a fan of the 95-minute holiday fantasy, I remain disappointed by Ferrell’s decision, but Christmas is a time when magical moments occur. That means Buddy the elf may one day return to the silver screen in another adventure.
In the meantime, the sugar-loving character will be on NBC, according to Variety. On Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas” will air in a stop-motion-animation version featuring Jim Parsons as the voice of the title character. The special is based on the popular Jon Favreau film with Ferrell and the successful Broadway show “Elf: The Musical.”
Other voice talents will include Mark Hamill, Kate Micucci, Rachael MacFarlane, Jay Leno and Ed Asner (who plays Santa in the original “Elf” film).
Coming soon
“Dolphin Tale 2,” with Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Morgan Freeman in a fact-based, PG-rated family adventure about a whale that begins grieving after losing his surrogate mother.
“Hickey & Boggs,” with Robert Culp (who also directed) and Bill Cosby in an R-rated modern noir tale written by Walter Hill and dealing with two private eyes who get involved in a search for a missing girl apparently taken by lethal gangsters.
“The Hundred-Foot Journey,” with Helen Mirren and Om Puri in a feel-good PG-rated tale, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, about an icy British restaurant owner who objects when a restaurant veteran from India plans to open an eatery just a few steps from her place.
Marvel “Guardians of the Galaxy,” with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Rooker and Glenn Close in the hit adaptation of a Marvel Comic in which the freewheeling main character obtains a mysterious orb coveted by a powerful villain. The PG-13 picture will also be available in 3-D.
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” with James Stewart, Jean Arthur and Claude Rains in director Frank Capra’s fable (1939) about an idealistic senator crushed by political corruption.
“My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Version,” with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison in a G-rated adaptation of the Broadway musical about a professor who transforms a Cockney flower girl into a lady.
“Safe,” with Julianne Moore in an R-rated drama a (1995) about a housewife who believes she has extreme environmental allergies. It will be presented by the prestigious Criterion collection.
“Vanilla Sky,” with Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz in an R-rated tale about a publishing tycoon and his involvement with a woman who could throw his ordered world into an out-of-control universe.