Fun light-hearted film with a good soundtrack that all ages should enjoy

Rating: Null/10 (26 December 2003)

I saw this film a few days before Christmas 2003 when it was in the theatres. I took two children, a boy aged 9 and a girl almost 10, as well as another adult. We all loved it!
Buddy (Will Ferrell) as a baby in an orphanage accidentally ends up in the North Pole when he climbs into the bag of Santa (Ed Asner) to play with a teddy bear. Once Buddy is found, Santa and the elves decide to raise him as an elf and Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) becomes his father. Clearly something is wrong when Buddy towers over his peers and just doesn't have the innate toy-making and other abilities that the elves do. He's told that he is actually a human being, and his real father, Walter (James Caan) works in Manhattan - and is on Santa's "naughty" list.
The story of Buddy's returning to Manhattan is a delight for children and adults alike. Bob Newhart brings his typical understated comedy to the role of Papa Elf that he made popular in TV shows from the 1960s through 1990s, such as "The Bob Newhart Show". Santa doesn't play a major part in this film, but Ed Asner was "the man" to bring to life a reasonably jolly but bit "fluster-able" character.
Buddy's enthusiasm and sappy sweet optimism is filled out with remarkable scenes of his speed and agility in working with Christmas decorations and snowballs, as well as a delightful relationship he builds with the lovely Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). I loved the music, especially the duet of Zooey and Leon Redbone in "Baby, It's Cold Outside", as well as Ella Fitzgerald's "Sleigh Ride" and Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby". And the scenes with Santa's sleigh were exciting to see!
This is a fun and relaxing film for all ages to get into a holiday mood or just to smile anytime of the year. Young children should particularly enjoy the costumes and Buddy's antics, and I would think that all but the most jaded would find "Elf" to be a light-hearted and fun film with a good, retro soundtrack. Jingle bells!
--Dilip, Christmas 2003