Elf

I haven't seen Elf since its theatrical run, so all I really remembered was that it was a lot of fun; now, as we decided to revisit it, I worried not only about whether it was as enjoyable as I remembered, but also whether it was as family-friendly as it seems to be held to be - as much as I love Will Ferrell, his humor tends to have a snarky edge that I love but doesn't always translate to a kid's audience. But it turns out Elf is every bit as charming and funny as I remembered it being, if not more so, relying not on snark or double entendres but on a gleeful juxtaposition of childlike wonder and innocence with a cynical view of the world. That's classic Christmas film material, of course, but Elf runs with it, playing both sides to their utmost and reveling in the collisions between them. And it's not just Ferrell - having James Caan play a children's book publisher who we meet when he's yelling at a nun pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Elf in some ways. But honestly, Elf doesn't work without Ferrell's wide-eyed, naive Buddy the Elf, and the fact that he doesn't ever wink in the role only makes it work all the better. And his performance works no matter what your age is; in the end, it's hard to know who laughed more at his silliness, me or my children. Elf is undeniably a Christmas movie for those who need a little bit of fun and goofiness (and a film that refuses to take itself too seriously), but it's also wholly committed to its bit, and it's hard not to enjoy the silliness on display. And as a comedy fan, any movie that can work in Kyle Gass, Bob Newhart, Andy Richter, and Amy Sedaris - well, that's great in my book.

- Josh Mauthe

---