A Pleasant Christmas Surprise

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2004)

By and large, SNL castmembers make great sketch comics but inconsistent actors. Eddie Murphy is a perfect example. There are exceptions. Bill Murray, Jane Curtain, Dan Ackroyd and Dana Carvey can carry a movie and keep the continuity. Most of the others can't. The jury was still out about Will Ferrell until I saw Elf. A nice little film that has landed on my "watch every Christmas" list. Great supporting turns from James Caan, Zooey Deschanel (Who sings beautifully), Mary Steenbegen, Bob Newhart and Ed Asner round out this delightfully written story about a boy who is raised as an elf. There's even a hip Burl Ives snowman played by Leon Redbone who sings a duet with Deschanel during the closing credits. Watch and enjoy.