Hey folks, Harry here... I finally met the fella known as Pyul MacTackle the other day at a screening of MYSTIC RIVER and he said ELF was fantastic. BTW - Pyul is a pretty cool guy, turns out he's part of some sort of Anime Society here in Austin and is big into something called Hentai and wanted to invite me to their next meeting... I think that should be fun! Anyway, ELF has looked funny ever since Will Ferrell put on that elf costume, he's so much hotter than Legolas, who doesn't look like a real elf, elf people look like Bob Newhart in tights! They always have! Anyways, I just want to see James Caan clock some elf folks with a wrench and I'll be happy!
So this might not be news, but it was cool. It's been a while since I saw anything about this flick on the site, and felt the need to pimp it hard, so here it is.
Was in Austin this past weekend for the AFF and caught a few films between screenwriting seminars. And while 'When Zachary Beaver Came to Town' was a sweet, on the nose family flick and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' an engaging period piece, only one flick knocked my nuts backwards through the door. That would be the genius that is ELF.
That's right, I said genius. Now, I gotta be honest. I find Will Ferrill mildly diverting, but I've never said 'New Will Ferril flick - where do I stand in line?'. I'm a big Favreau fan - loved 'Made' no matter what anyone else says and religiously watch Dinner for Five - so maybe that wouldn've sucked me into the theater. But I was gonna hold off. Sunday afternoon a few new acquaintences talked me into seeing the 4:30 showing -- and I need to send out thank you cards because it was the best comedy I've seen in a while. There are flaws to be sure - but after I walked out of the Paramount Theater this Sunday, I found it hard to care.
For those who may have forgotten - ELF is about Buddy (Will Ferrill) a human raised by elves who suddenly finds out OH NO! he's not really an elf, but someone Santa brought home by accident. Determined to find his Dad, Buddy heads to New Yawk and the rest is funny as hell.
Start off with an inspired credit sequence -- you remember (well, you older posters might) the Rankin-Bass holiday classics? 'Year Without a Santa Claus'? 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'? Picture that, but with just a twist of acid - just a little tweek to get a laugh. The whole of the North Pole reflects that style - it was such a great start to the flick that I think they could have run blank film and I might have still sent people to see it.
Ten years ago this was a Jim Carrey movie. I can't imagine it would have been better for it. Will Ferrill has this wide-eyed wonder on his face -- a sort of child-like innocence. But he's not stupid -- it's classic fish out of water stuff. As Buddy, Will really makes you care about this guy, not just laugh at him. He's silly when he needs to be, but there is also a tone of -- well seriousness isn't the right word, but maybe gravity is. You believe in Buddy because Will believes in him and embodies him with a great deal of empathy. There's a small scene between Buddy and a little girl that is almost a throw-away but Ferrill plays it just right - a little goofy but almost straight. And he pulls off that balancing act the whole movie. On the humor side, there is one of the funniest burps I've ever seen on film. If this doesn't make Will Ferrill a star I really don't know what will -- I know he's converted me to a fan for life.
Zooey Deschanel plays the love interest. Unfortunately, here's where the film lags a little. You probably could have done without her character and the relationship isn't the most solid. But she and Ferrill have a great duet in a bathroom and for that I'm glad she's in the flick. Her voice is incredible -- a real classic throaty woman's voice, not like so much crap out today. Made me long for that retro-swing movement of a few years back. she's not bad, not at all. Just a little underutilized. I'd have liked to see more of her and Buddy, but that might have seemed more run-of-the-mill, so maybe the truncated romance plot was for the best.
James Caan, on the other hand, is perfectly used by the movie. He plays Buddy's unsuspecting Dad with a great combo of confusion, bemusement and barely suppresed rage. And you haven't lived until you've seen Ferrill hug James Caan for the first time - the look on Caan's face? Hilarious. Ferrill's innocent Buddy plays off Caan's father perfectly. I can't imagine a better casting.
Other walk-ons are solid. Bob Newheart as Buddy's adopted elf dad, Faizon Love as a Gimbel's store manager, Ed Asner (!) as Santa Claus, Andy Richter and Kyle Gass as writer's in Caan's office are a few. Everyone plays it real well.
Aside from the lack of developement in the romance subplot (which was still fun) there isn't much to complain about. It's a funny, slightly twisted family movie. Favreau directs very well, balancing the more twisted aspects well against the more mainstream and family aspects of the film. And it's clear he loves NY - there is a real feel for parts of the city (and a debate about the 'real' Ray's pizza). Everything clicks for him - the pace, the comedy, the look. All of it's great. Of course, being a writer myself, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention David Berenbaum's script. I want to read early drafts of it, just to compare and see what was Ferrill, Favs or Berenbaum. But the original genius concept sprang from Berenbaum, so props to him.
I could go on, but enough's enough. This is the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time. When we left the Paramount, our faces hurt. I can't remember when that last happened. I will go see this again, more than once, and drag everyone I know with me. Hell, I wish my 2 yr old son were juuuust a little older. I can't wait for him to see it one day.
Go see, go see, go see!
And remember - the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for everyone to hear!
Bucky Katt
|
