Elf
The divergent marketing concerns of many a modern Hollywood film have increasingly led to the issuing of individual song-scores and traditional orchestral soundtracks for the same film, releases that sometimes seem completely at artistic cross-purposes. John Debney’s effervescent score for Jon Favreau’s loopy Christmas fantasy is a happy exception. Perfectly complementing a song-score that leans on Favreau’s decidedly hipster retro-lounge affections, Debney has concocted playful orchestral cues that careen with the same buoyant sense of innocent abandon as Will Ferrell’s star-crossed title character. The composer’s swinging "Christmas Medley" here wouldn’t seem at all out of place on its song-score companion piece, while his musical portrayal of the Elves and their magic holiday world is dominated by a whistling chorus that’s just ever so-slightlyoff. It’s instrumental holiday music fueled by a refreshing sense of fun – and a little contemporary, ironic sass.--Jerry McCulley