ELF REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

​Despite being released over a decade ago, Elf still remains a classic Christmas film that a lot of people love to watch during the holiday season. This is because it's entertaining and features one of Will Ferrell's best performances.

After being raised as an elf in the North Pole, Buddy (Ferrell) discovers that he's a human and travels to New York City to look for his biological father, Walter (James Caan). This leads to a series of mishaps with a fake Santa in a departure store, falling in love for the first time with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) and developing a relationship with his new family, including his younger half-brother, Michael (Daniel Tay).

After making several appearances on Saturday Night Live, Ferrell made several supporting roles in comedy feature films but it wasn't until his first lead performance in Elf that he shot to fame. His performance as Buddy is brilliant and carries the whole film. There are great performances all round. Caan, who is best known for appearing in The Godfather, plays the Scrooge-type character. He is a book publisher and despises Christmas so he's, understandbly, annoyed when an elf turns up at his office claiming to be his son. Edward Asner is perfect as Santa Claus. Deschanel is sweet as Jovie, Buddy's love interest and, despite his quriks, she ends up falling in love with him. Many people will know Peter Dinklage best for his role as Tyrion in the fantasy/drama TV series, Game of Thrones, however, I remember Dinklage for his performance as Miles Thinch, a writer who has a meeting with Walter but has an awkward yet hilarious encounter with Buddy who mistakes him for an elf.

Now, it would seem unusual that Jon Favreau, who is best known for directing Iron Man, directed this but this film proves that he has a knack for comedy and directs this film with speed, humour and efficiency. He even makes a cameo as the doctor who tests Buddy to see if he's really the son of Walter.

The film's most funniest moments are when Buddy is exploring New York. In a montage, we see him ride around in a revolving door several times, congratulating a coffee shop on having the 'world's best coffee' and mistaking an old man for Santa. Fortunately, the humour doesn't end there and improves when Buddy visits a departure store and ends up being mistaken for one of the members of staff (who are all dressed up as elves as part of the holiday season). After the boss announces Santa is visiting, Buddy screams out in delight, obviously not realising that it's an actor dressed up. This leads to a slapstick fight with fake Santa, one of the best scenes in the film.

A lot of films like Elf struggle to have an engaging climax but that's not the case here. I won't spoil it but the ending features Buddy helping Santa out, a lot of people singing the classic Christmas carol, 'Santa Clause Is Coming To Town' and a heartwarming conclusion.

Elf provides a hilarious and entertaining Christmas film that is a must watch during this holiday season.

7/10