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Features: DVD, Widescreen, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), Dolby Surround Sound, Audio Commentary, Featurettes, Deleted/Alternate Scenes, Karaoke, Spanish Subtitled, 2 Discs
One Christmas Eve long ago, a small orphan baby crawled into Santa's bag of gifts and was carried off to the North Pole. Named Buddy (Will Ferrell) and raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), it soon became clear that he didn't fit in as he was much bigger than the other elves. Determined to find a place where he belongs, Buddy sets out to find his real dad -- in New York City!
Buddy soon discovers that the big city is no place for an elf and his dad (James Caan) is on the Naughty list! But most importantly, he finds that the world is seriously lacking in Christmas spirit causing Santa all kinds of problems!
So with the help of a beautiful department store elf (Zooey Deschanel), Buddy tries to teach his dad and the world the true meaning of Christmas spirit and to prove to everyone that Santa (Ed Asner) really exists!
"...a film for kids and adults that's both sweet and sardonic" Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
"...has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece." Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Editor's Note
Will Ferrell makes yet another memorable splash on the big screen in Jon Favreau's sweet and hilarious Christmas fable. Ferrell is Buddy, an innocent figure who was raised as an elf in the North Pole by his adoptive father, Papa Elf (Bob Newhart). When Buddy discovers that he's actually a human being, he heads to New York City to reunite with his biological father. The trouble is that his dad, Walter (James Caan), is a publishing executive who doesn't have time for anything other than work. Buddy moves in with Walter and his family, and proceeds to teach them a lesson or two about what being a family really means. Meanwhile, he also falls head over heels in love with the incredibly cute department store clerk, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, the general lack of spirit in the air threatens to ground Santa for the big night. He must rely on Buddy's expertise and overall enthusiasm to ensure that Christmas will be saved once again. Favreau's film is family entertainment at its finest, featuring a performance by Ferrell that is at once innocent, tender, and laugh-out-loud funny. A stellar supporting cast--including Caan, Deschanel, Newhart, and Faizon Love--adds to the film's already overabundant charm.
| Features | 2 Commentaries With Will Ferrell & Director | | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Buddy's Adventure Game | | Deleted Scenes | | DVD ROM Features | | Elf Decoder Card And More! | | Elf Karaoke | | Featurette: Film School For Kids, Tag Along With Will Ferrell, How They Made The North Pole, Kids On Christmas And More! | | Infinifilm Fact Tack | | Read-Along | | Spanish Language Track | | Widescreen Presentation | | Santa Mania Featurette | | Send Personalized Greetings Featurette | | Full Screen Presentation | | Christmas In Tinseltown | | Lights, Cameras, Puffins! | | Scene Selection | | That's A Wrap... Featurette | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Deck The Halls | | Script-to-screen - read the script while watching the film | | Make Your Own Christmas Book Activity Featurette | | Film School For Kids Featurette | | Interactive Game - Buddy's Adventure Game | | Elf Karaoke - sing along with carolers to your favorite Christmas songs. | | Read-Along: Hear or Read A Short Story of a Tall Tale | | Deleted/Alternate Scenes | | Audio Commentary by Will Ferrell and director John Favreau |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: New Line |
| Release Date: 9/8/2009 |
| Running Time: 95 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2003 | | Catalog ID: 7168 | | UPC: 00794043716829 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Dubbed | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Standard 1.33:1 [4:3] |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
MTV Award (2004) | | | Will Ferrell , Nominee, Best Comedic Performance |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...A disarming holiday comedy....The sweet-natured outsider fantasy neither skimps on nor overplays its sentimentality..." 10/27/2003 p.30Los Angeles Times
"...ELF returns to the hip but warm-hearted spirit of SWINGERS....[With] sophisticated glee and a sense of innocent fun..." 11/07/2003 p.C1 New York Times
"...Mr. Favreau's direction has a relaxed, swinging rhythm..." 11/07/2003 p.E8 Entertainment Weekly
"...The disarming comedic tone -- silly and novel in its lack of cynicism -- is driven by the fearless, cheerful unself-consciousness of Will Ferrell..." 11/14/2003 p.94-5 Rolling Stone
"...There's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play..." 11/27/2003 p.103 Total Film
"...Ferrell and Favreau have engendered enough goodwill to allow for a finale that glows like winter coals. A gleeful, cracked fairytale..." 12/01/2003 p.103 Sight and Sound
"Will Ferrell's man-child in tights is a surprisingly affecting figure." 12/31/2003 p.42-3 Chicago Sun-Times
"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." 11/07/2003 p.37 James Berardinelli's ReelViews 6 of 10
Elf is being hailed in some quarters as the next great Christmas classic. The people making such a p - James Berardinelli
Rolling Stone 7 of 10
OK, yuk. But Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, - Peter Travers
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