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Elf
New Line Cinema


8.2

based on 38 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 49 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG for some mild rude humor and language

Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, and Daniel Tay

A boy who was raised by Santa's elves returns to New York City to find his biological family.

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Family/Kids \| Fantasy
WRITTEN BY:	David Berenbaum
DIRECTED BY:	Jon Favreau
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: November 16, 2004 Video: November 16, 2004 Theatrical: November 7, 2003
RUNNING TIME:	95 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

It's a terrific movie, smart and funny enough to hold up at any time of year.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The disarming comedic tone -- silly and novel in its lack of cynicism -- is driven by the fearless, cheerful unself-consciousness of Will Ferrell, a big man last seen streaking (all too unself-consciously) through ''Old School.''

Newsweek David Ansen

Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the “true spirit of Christmas” must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle.

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

While the words "instant holiday classic" might be pushing it, Elf is at the very least a breezily entertaining, perfectly cast family treat.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Directed by Jon Favreau from a script by David Berenbaum, Elf returns to the hip but warm-hearted spirit of "Swingers," which Favreau both wrote and starred in. It brings sophisticated glee and a sense of innocent fun to what could have been a moribund traditional family film.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

How many human beings among us are capable of making a comedy with wit and intelligence that also takes bold pleasure in unabashed silliness? I think this is what happens when you let an elf loose with a movie camera.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

A movie that’s so profoundly ridiculous that it has to be admired, if for no other reason other than its sheer willingness to run with its premise and take it to the end of the line.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

This is one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece. Even the unexpected casting is on the money.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

A non-sappy and genuinely adorable confection. It wiped away the Scrooge in me for 90 enchanting minutes.

New York Post Megan Lehmann

Ferrell's manic, overgrown-kid energy sweeps all before it, announcing him - after his standout turn in "Old School" - as a major leading-man talent who can charm as well as amuse.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Funny and intelligently made, a film for kids and adults that's both sweet and sardonic...Elf stays perfectly in balance, a pleasure throughout.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Elf tries so hard to be a holiday classic, to be a sweet-natured, charming little piece of holiday gloss, it's tempting to declare it so and simply go with it.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

The movie sets Ferrell's assaultive and juvenile physical comedy in a less-combative playground, and the result might leave the Ferrell-intolerant exiting the theater on a high.

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

Elf, formulaic but lovable, is essentially "Big" in pointy shoes.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Will Ferrell strides through Elf like a crazily cheerful wind-up toy: arms swinging, legs stiff, mouth fixed in an impossibly happy grin, eyes wide with wonder. He's the Christmas gift nobody thought to ask for but everybody will want to play with.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Pays homage to a sack of Christmas movies, from the department store Claus of "Miracle on 34th Street" to a standing-on-the-bridge-contemplating-suicide moment, a la "It's a Wonderful Life."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

The real gift of Elf is the simple pleasure of a sweet and funny comedy that genuinely embraces its message of holiday cheer and still has fun goofing with it.

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

Elf may be no more than a pleasant, amusing trifle, a grin that fades well before Thanksgiving, but it also will endure in the way all decent Hollywood-made Christmas fairy tales last if they're rendered with good cheer and good will.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Charmingly irreverent.

Variety David Rooney

Will Ferrell graduates to his first solo leading role with flying colors in Elf, a disarming holiday comedy about a clueless innocent who saves Christmas and fosters a renewed sense of family in his reluctant father.

Slate Michael Agger

The music is chirpy and borderline annoying. But once you rearrange your expectations and give yourself over to the movie's unfailing earnestness, you realize that Favreau and Ferrell do heartwarming fairly well.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

A charming, silly family Christmas movie more likely to spread real joy than migraine, indigestion and sugar shock. The movie succeeds because it at once restrains its sticky, gooey good cheer and wildly overdoes it.

TV Guide Angel Cohn

Director Jon Favreau keeps the guy-in-an-elf-suit act from degenerating into a too-long sketch, focusing on Buddy's naïve optimism, even in the face of harsh reality.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Ferrell provides just enough humor to get us through the familiar fare and enjoy the ride.

Film Threat Kevin Carr

If you’re not a fan of Will Ferrell, you ain't gonna like this film. But if you think he's funny and you don't mind a sappy ending, this is a decent holiday flick.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Elf is jolly but could have been jollier, funny but could have been funnier, charming but ... well, point made.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

More likely to end up on the snow pile of forgettable Christmas-themed movies than in the vault of memorable ones.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

There are precious few moments in Elf when Ferrell doesn't manage to at least get a smile out of you. Considering how cloying the movie might have turned out without him, that's a huge gift all its own.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

The cast wrings laughs out of David Berenbaum's script as if it were a damp washcloth.

Film Threat Rick Kisonak

While the picture doesn't rise to the level of instant holiday classic, younger members of the audience are guaranteed to get a Christmas kick out of it. If disappointment awaits, it awaits Ferrell's older fans.

Empire Anna Smith

The gags swing between mildly inventive and screamingly obvious, but even the latter are performed and timed well enough to draw a laugh.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

If you're one of those fussy filmgoers who demands that a movie engage somewhat higher body parts -- the heart, say, and the brain -- you'll find only intermittent comfort and joy in this high-concept, low-wattage film.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

The film is soon bogged down by fake hugs and a faker climax.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Its message is unobjectionable, and there are a few laughs to be had, but too much of Elf is like Buddy's favorite meals: syrupy sweet.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, there's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play. Director Jon Favreau has the good sense to just stand out of his way.

Village Voice Ed Park

Works best as a rapid-fire series of sight gags and absurd remarks.

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

I was looking forward to something a tad more satirical than this Hallmark card of a movie, which plugs innocence and goodness like they’re going out of style.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

The first and possibly the last Will Ferrell star vehicle. It's a clumsy, tedious ride that wears out its welcome as it wears out the seat of your pants and the circulation in your lower limbs.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bill M. gave it an8:
excellent xmas comedy, and surely a future classic. the only movie ive ever seen with will ferrell, so dont judge! might seek out a few more, although unsure if any of his other output also hits the right mark. will stay optimistic! lol.. anyone that dislikes this movie however surely should stay away from this particular genre altogether. perhaps not 'laugh out loud' amusing for a comedy, but its not really designed to be.. theres actually a reasonable xmas plot in there, and it wears its influences on its shoulders with pride! recommended.

Jack S. gave it a9:
This is one of Ferrels more funnier movies. A hell of a lot funnier then "Talladega Nights." This movie made kept me and my brother lauphing for hours. Buddy is so funny and oblivious to how to behave with the people in New York.Had a great sense of humor, I would love to have Buddy the elf as a brother or a friend.

Matt gave it a3:
The ending was terrible. Weak plot/storyline. Some parts were funny but overall the movie was bad.

Candy gave it a10:
This is one of the most hilarious Christmas classics ever written. I absolutely loved every minute of it. It was also a movie that kids, teens,and parents will all enjoy!

Mike gave it a7:
Very enjoyable, funny at alot of moments. But the ending falls apart.

anonimo gave it a10:
Divertentissimo.

Robert S. gave it a9:
When i saw Old School, I didn't think Ferrell was going to be--or was--a truly funny actor. But when I saw Elf, I laughed until I almost cried. I agree, the movie is built on dumb humor, but it still is a holiday treat--heck, an all-year-long treat! I'd watch it any time of the year. For those of you readers who though that Old School and Anchorman were too stupid to sit through, sit down and laugh your butt off at ELF! It is truly funny.

Elf New Line Cinema

Elf
New Line Cinema