This holiday, discover your inner elf.The film's tagline
Elf is an American Christmas comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell and James Caan. It was released in the United States on November 7, 2003 and grossed over $220 million worldwide.
Synopsis
One Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is delivering toys to an orphanage when a baby, captivated by the sight of a teddy bear, crawls into his sack and is unwittingly taken back to the North Pole. The elves name him Buddy after his diaper's brand label and Papa Elf volunteers to adopt him. He grows up thinking that he is an elf, but when he reaches adulthood, his enormous size and poor toymaking skills prove troublesome. Upon learning that he is a human, he goes to Papa for the truth. Papa tells him that he was born to Walter Hobbs and Susan Wells, and that Susan put him up for adoption prior to her death. Walter now works for a publishing company at the Empire State Building in New York City, unaware of Buddy's existence. After hearing from Santa that Walter is on the naughty list because of his selfish ways, Buddy sets out on a long journey to find him.
Upon arriving in New York City, Buddy demonstrates his naivety in several ways: he takes a derelict coffee shop's claim to have the "world's best cup of coffee" literally, plays hopscotch on a crosswalk, mistakes a passerby for Santa, chews gum stuck to a railing, and runs circles through a revolving door. He soon reaches the Empire State Building and Walter lets him into his office, thinking he is a Christmas-gram messenger. When he mentions Susan Wells, an incredulous Walter has security eject him from the building and they sarcastically tell him to "get back to Gimbel's". He does so, and the manager mistakes him for an employee at the store's Santa Land, where he meets the beautiful but deadpan Jovie. After hearing that Santa will be arriving the next morning, he redecorates Santa Land overnight.
The morning comes and the redecorated Santa Land proves popular with families, but Buddy is indignant when he finds out that the Gimbel's Santa is simply an actor in a costume. After Buddy rips off his beard, a scuffle breaks out that causes much destruction to Santa Land and results in Buddy getting arrested and put in prison. After hearing about his imprisonment, Walter reluctantly bails him out and takes him to the family doctor for a DNA test, confirming that he is Walter's son. The doctor falsely deduces that Buddy's behavior is because he was never fully nurtured at birth and convinces Walter to take him home to meet his stepmother, Emily, and half-brother, Michael. Walter and Michael are put off by Buddy's immature behavior, but Emily insists that he stay with them until he "recovers".
Walter later learns from his boss, Fulton Greenway, that the company is in financial trouble due to a book being published with two pages missing. Greenway schedules a book pitch for Christmas Eve, and Walter's associates, Eugene and Morris, suggest that they hire bestselling author Miles Finch to assist them. Meanwhile, Buddy befriends Michael after helping him overpower a gang of bullies in a snowball fight, and Michael encourages him to ask Jovie out on a date. The following day, Walter reluctantly takes Buddy to work with him after being encouraged by Emily to do so. Upon being sent to work in the mail room, Buddy becomes intoxicated after mistaking a coworker's whiskey for syrup and throws an outrageous dance party. He later goes on his date with Jovie and wins her over with his childlike enthusiasm.
On Christmas Eve, Miles arrives at the office and tries to pitch an idea to Walter, Eugene, and Morris. Buddy interrupts the meeting to tell Walter about his newfound love, only to notice Miles (who's a midget) and mistake him for an elf. He asks Miles several questions as to how he left the North Pole until he loses his temper and pummels him in a fight. Walter attempts to explain Buddy's mistake, but an angry and insulted Miles storms out of the office. Furious that his plan to save the company has been foiled, Walter disowns Buddy and tells him to leave. Depressed, he returns home and writes a note of apology on an Etch-a-Sketch before leaving.
Back at the office, Eugene and Morris find a notebook that Miles left in the conference room and Walter tells them to prepare a storyboard in time for Greenway's arrival. In the middle of the presentation, Michael bursts into the conference room and frantically informs Walter of Buddy's departure. Walter asks Greenway to reschedule the meeting. He refuses and threatens to fire Walter if he does not finish the pitch, but Walter is unfazed and leaves with Michael.
While roaming the streets, Buddy sees Santa's sleigh crash into Central Park, which attracts a large crowd. Santa explains that the engine is lost and the last ounce of Christmas spirit on the Claus-o-meter is gone. Walter and Michael find Buddy as he locates the engine, and Walter apologizes to him for his angry outburst. He then takes them to meet Santa, who reveals to Michael that belief in him can make his sleigh fly. Therefore, Michael steals his list and reads it in front of television cameras gathered outside the park, convincing people all over the city to believe in Santa. As Buddy tries to reattach the engine, a group of Central Park Rangers begin to pursue the sleigh. Having seen the events on television, Jovie remembers what Buddy told her earlier about how singing is the best way to spread Christmas cheer. She leads the crowd into singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", which restores power to the sleigh. The crowd watches in amazement as it takes off.
By next Christmas, Walter has started his own publishing company with its first book release, an account of Buddy's adventures. Buddy and Jovie get married and have a daughter named Susie, named after Susan. The film ends with them visiting Papa Elf at the North Pole.
Songs
| Title | Performed by |
|---|---|
| "Pennies from Heaven" | Louis Prima |
| "Sleigh Ride" |
|
| "Santa Claus Party" | Les Baxter |
| "Santa Baby" | Eartha Kitt |
| Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite [Op.71a] | The Brain Setzer Orchestra |
| "Baby, It's Cold Outside" |
|
| "Jingle Bel Rock" | Wayne Newton |
| "What Christmas Means to Me" | Stevie Wonder |
| "Christmas Island" | Leon Redbone |
| "Brollic" | FT |
| "Nothing from Nothing" | Billy Preston |
| "Christmas Stylee" | Johnnie Osbourne |
| "Whoomp! There It Is" | Tag Team |
| "You Make Me Feel So Young" | Frank Sinatra |
| "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" |
|
| "Winter Wonderland" |
|
| Uncredited | |
| "Pop Goes the Weasel" | |
| "Auld Lang Syne" | James Caan (piano) Zoey Deschanel (vocals) |
The soundtrack album, released by New Line Records, also included "Jingle Bells", performed by Jim Reeves.
Score album
| # | Track title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Main Title" (Part 1)/"Papa Elf" | 1:42 |
| 2 | "Storybook"/"Main Title" (Part 2) | 1:55 |
| 3 | "Orphanage"/"Elf Dancing" | 1:47 |
| 4 | "Here's the Baby" | 0:48 |
| 5 | "Buddy's Childhood"/"Santa's Sleigh" | 2:06 |
| 6 | "Nightmare" | 0:45 |
| 7 | "Buddy Learns Truth About Parents" [Edit] | 2:31 |
| 8 | "The Book"/"Goodbye, Buddy" | 0:38 |
| 9 | "Buddy's Journey to New York" | 2:38 |
| 10 | "Susan Wells"/"Buddy Meets Jovie" | 1:00 |
| 11 | "Yearbook"/"Beautiful Voice" | 0:42 |
| 12 | "Fake Santa" | 1:22 |
| 13 | "Dad's Present" | 0:31 |
| 14 | "Jail Time" | 1:30 |
| 15 | "Buddy and Little Girl" | 0:42 |
| 16 | "Elfized Home" | 1:35 |
| 17 | "Tucked In" | 1:03 |
| 18 | "Where Did You Get the Wood?" | 0:28 |
| 19 | "Evil Radiator" | 1:38 |
| 20 | "Elf at School" | 1:06 |
| 21 | "Snowball Fight"/"The Star" | |
| 22 | "Buddy to Work with You" | 0:35 |
| 23 | "Let's Hire Miles Finch" | 0:24 |
| 24 | "Problem in the Mailroom"/"Miles Finch" | 0:50 |
| 25 | "Miles and Buddy" | 1:59 |
| 26 | "Miles Book"/"Buddy's Goodbye" | 0:59 |
| 27 | "The Pitch Will Wait"/"Sad Buddy on the Bridge" | 1:18 |
| 28 | "Buddy Sees Santa" | 2:05 |
| 29 | "Buddy, Dad, and Brother in the Park" | 1:24 |
| 30 | "Mounted Police"/"Santa"/"Attack" | 2:53 |
| 31 | "Here Come the Police" | 3:30 |
| 32 | "The Chase Continues" | 0:23 |
| 33 | "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (Part 2) | 0:56 |
| 34 | "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (Part 3) | 0:38 |
| 35 | "Still Only 90%"/"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (Part 4) | 0:30 |
| 36 | "Here Comes the Sleigh" | 1:13 |
| 37 | "End Credits Score Suite" | 1:11 |
| 38 | "Papa Elf" [Original Soundtrack Mix] | 1:35 |
| 39 | "Main Title" [Original Soundtrack Mix] | 1:58 |
| 40 | "Snowman's Advice" [Original Soundtrack Edit] | 1:46 |
| 41 | "A Walk in the Park" [Original Soundtrack Version Without Vocal] | 1:01 |
| 42 | "Attack of the Little People" [Original Soundtrack Edit] | 1:14 |
| 43 | "Buddy and Santa Take Flight" [Original Soundtrack Edit] | 1:15 |
| 44 | "Christmas Medley" [from the Original Soundtrack] | 2:23 |
Availability
The film was released on DVD and VHS on November 16, 2004, on UMD for the PlayStation Portable on October 4, 2005, and on Blu-ray on October 28, 2008. A Collector's Edition Blu-ray and DVD was released on October 26, 2010. A 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray combo pack was released on November 5, 2013, and a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray came out on November 1, 2022.
In addition to the film's own individual releases, the DVD was also included in Warner Home Video's Christmas Comedy Collection box set, alongside A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in 2007. Two years later, it was then packaged in the Holiday Comedy Collection, along with Christmas Vacation and Fred Claus. The Blu-ray was also released as part of the Essential Holiday Collection Blu-ray set, which also included the Blu-rays of A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express.
November 16, 2004
October 4, 2005
October 26, 2010
November 27, 2018
November 16, 2004
October 28, 2008
October 26, 2010
November 5, 2013
November 1, 2022
Notes
- A small store in Maine received a licensing fee from the producers after it was learned that they had owned the then-abandoned "Gimbel's" name.
- Much of the filming took place in New York City, with the exception of the exterior scenes for Gimbel's, which were done in Vancouver.
- Director Jon Favreau makes a cameo appearance in the film as the Hobbs' family doctor.
- Jim Carrey was originally cast to play Buddy, but he turned it down, giving Will Ferrell his Hollywood breakthrough role after originally starring on Saturday Night Live.
- Ed Asner previously played Santa in The Story of Santa Claus and Olive, the Other Reindeer.
- The designs for Santa's workshop and the elf uniforms come from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Additionally, the character of Leon the Snowman is an obvious parody of Sam the Snowman.
- If one pauses at the right time during the sleigh, Rudolph can be seen, but he his nose struggles to glow.
- A sequel was planned in 2013 but scrapped because Will Ferrell turned down the role.
Adaptations
On November 14, 2010, a stage musical version of the film opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway. It was directed by Casey Nicholaw, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan. The cast included Sebastian Arcelus as Buddy, Amy Spanger as Jovie, Beth Leavel as Emily, Mark Jacoby as Walter, Matthew Gumley as Michael, Valerie Wright as Deb, Michael McCormick as Fulton, Michael Mandell as the store manager, and George Wendt as Santa. It ran through to January 2, 2011.
A stop-motion animated musical special, titled Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas and starring Jim Parsons as Buddy, premiered on NBC on December 16, 2014.
Cast
| Actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Will Ferrell | Buddy |
| James Caan | Walter Hobbs |
| Bob Newhart | Papa Elf |
| Ed Asner | Santa Claus |
| Mary Steenburgen | Emily Hobbs |
| Zooey Deschanel | Jovie |
| Daniel Tay | Michael Hobbs |
| Faizon Love | Gimbel's Manager |
| Peter Dinklage | Miles Finch |
| Amy Sedaris | Deb |
| Michael Lerner | Fulton Greenway |
| Andy Richter | Morris |
| Kyle Gass | Eugene |
| Artie Lange | Gimbel's Santa |
| Leon Redbone (voice) | Leon the Snowman |
| Ray Harryhausen (voice) | Polar Bear Cub |
| Claire Lautier | NY1 Reporter |
| Ted Friend | NY1 Anchor |
| Patrick Ferrell Patrick McCartney |
Security Guards |
| Jon Favreau | Doctor |
| Lydia Lawson-Baird | Carolyn |
| Brenda MacDonald | Nun |
| Annie Brebner Luke Pohl |
Elf Students |
| Meghan Black Patrick Baynham |
Elves |
| Michael Roberds | Disgruntled Cobbler Elf |
| Peter A. & Patrick Hulne | Elf Twins |
| Richard Side | Elf Teacher |
| David Paul Grove | Pom Pom |
| Kristian Ayre | Foom Foom |
| Lorin Heath | Perfume Clerk |
| Dillard Brinson | Printer |
| David Berenbaum Brenda Crichlow Brad Turner |
Office Coworkers |
| Oscar Goncalves | Francisco |
| Mary Black | Nurse |
| Murray Jack | Worker in Elevator |
| Mark Acheson | Mailroom Guy |
| Robin Mossley | Chuck |
| Paul Schofield | Kid with Santa |
| Matt Walsh | Unknown |
| Will McCormack Gus Michael |
Witnesses |
| Alexandra Michael | Child |
| Terry Scarlatos | Police Officer |
| Jonathan Bruce | Biker |
| Akeem Smith Michael Fischetti |
Students |
| Jane Bradbury | Susan Wells |
| Uncredited | |
| Peter Billingsley | Ming Ming |
| Craig Castaldo | Radioman |
| Natasha Denis | Gimbel's Elf |
| Graeme Duffy | Orange Elf |
| Rachel Lana Li | Child |
| Nance Nickels | Crowd Extra |
| Albert Precourt | Passerby |
| Reginald Rowley | Santa's Elf |
| Jamie Vergan | Ice skater |
Gallery
External links
Elf at the Internet Movie Database
Elf at the Movie Database
- REDIRECT Template:Rotten Tomatoes
Elf at RetroJunk.com
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