Astonishingly Good. An Honest-to-Goodness Holiday Classic.

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2008)

I've thought a lot about this movie before writing this review. At first, I didn't think much of Elf, based on what I'd read about it and my not being a huge fan of either Will Ferrel or Jon Favreau.
However, I kept hearing my friends who had seen it rave about it; friends whose taste I respected. So, I caught it one day on USA. I'm a big fan of holiday movies. I'm a sucker like that. I really like the 1934 version of A Christmas Carol, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (animated version,) White Christmas, The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, all the real classics.
After multiple viewings of Elf, I have to say that based on at least three reasons it is a bona-fide holiday classic, whose destiny is to sit on the same shelf as all the heavyweights.
1. The brilliant casting (James Caan is incredible and Bob Newhart as narrator was a stroke of genius.)
2. The absolutely superb acting, including a career-making performance by Will Ferrel (can you imagine anyone else in that role? Okay, Martin Short aside,)
3. The fantastic direction by John Favreau (look no further than the scene with the jack-in-the-box, it was poignant and hilarious, always an incredibly tough combination.)
The soundtrack is also incredible and chosen with a extreme care. Look, I could go on and on about this movie, but suffice it to say, it's a movie everyone should own, and pass along to their family.