Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa’s sack and ended up at the North Pole.
Later, as an adult human who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs.
Hobbs, on Santa’s naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can.
When Walter’s relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities.
Watch Trailer Of Movie ‘ELF’ Here
Watch Now On Amazon Prime Video
Movie Reviews: ‘ELF’
Movie Review: Boston
‘ELF’ director Jon Favreau goes easier on the sweet stuff, however. The “Swingers” director has made a Christmas movie that’s almost edgy. And as Buddy, Will Ferrell brings 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 as 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.
For Full Movie Review, Click Here.
Movie Review: Chicago Reader
Twinkly Will Ferrell plays a man raised at the north pole who returns to his native New York City to bond with his long-lost father (James Caan, looking rather angry about the state of his career).
Director Jon Favreau pitches this secular fable (2003) at the level of the old Rankin-Bass TV specials, which results in a smarmy and unconvincing family story and leaves Ferrell to carry the ball.
A job in the Gimbel’s toy department gives him a cute, cynical love interest (Zooey Deschanel) and a chance to run amok (assaulting the fake Santa in the public interest), but the film soon bogs down in fake hugs and a more fakie climax involving Santa (Ed Asner) and his downed sled. David Berenbaum wrote the script; with Bob Newhart, unusually funny on the big screen as Ferrell’s adoptive father.
For Full Movie Review, Click Here.
Movie Review: SOLZY AT THE MOVIES
When Buddy arrives in New York, he finds his cynical father. Walter thinks that Buddy is some sort of joke and thinks he should go back to Gimbels. Gimbel’s Manager Wanda (Faizon Love) thinks Buddy is an actual employee and orders him back to work.
Lucky for Buddy, he meets Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), giving this fantasy comedy a hint of romance. Anyway, Buddy becomes over-excited to hear that Santa will be arriving in Santa Land the next day.
With nowhere to go, Buddy spends the night to get ready for Santa’s arrival. Unfortunately for Buddy, the Gimbels Santa (Artie Lange) is a fake and things soon get out of hand. Thus, we have one of the best GIFs ever!
For Full Movie Review, Click Here.
Watch Now On Amazon Prime Video