Nice performance from Ferrell raises this above average

Rating: 7/10 (3 December 2003)

Affable, amusing holiday fare. There's really nothing terribly new here--the film's basically a collection of Christmas-movie clichés strung together like Buddy's meticulously crafted paper snowflakes. But Will Ferrell's deeply committed performance makes things worth our while. Ferrell seems to be that rarest of creatures, the `Saturday Night Live' alum who actually can make it on the big screen. Here he gives a big, childlike, wonderfully straight-faced performance--he never winks at the audience, and that's what gives him his charm. In fact, the entire production has a refreshing earnestness about it--there's nothing all that special about Jon Favreau's direction (though his quick cuts in the reindeer scenes preserve the illusion beautifully), but we have to admire the fact that there are no annoying pop-cultural references, grossout gags, or smarmy jokes for the adults to laugh at. There aren't too many belly laughs, either, but unless you have a heart of stone, you're likely to have a smile on your face for the entire 95 minutes. 7 out of 10.