Will Ferrell in the Christmas Movie Elf

Today, we discuss the 2003 holiday film Elf. It stars Will Ferrell and was directed by Jon Favreau. We’re going to assume most of you have seen this and you’re here to remember it with us. Anne, where does this one fit in on your all time favorite Christmas films?

Torg’s off the top of his head favorite holiday show list:

1. Elf
2. Home Alone
3. It’s a Wonderful Life
4. Die Hard
5. Miracle on 34th Street

One of the Grinches? Charlie Brown? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? Christmas Carol?

Let’s go favorite scenes first:

1. Sleigh is able to go on belief and rises up over the carolers. Elf waves at Jovie. Walter sees Santa is real.
2. Buddy is special and the Jack in the Box repeatedly scares him.
3. You sit on a throne of lies fight scene with Santa at Gimballs.
4. Santa is coming + decorating Gimballs.
5. Mail room scene. Tickle fight. Drinking. Dancing.
6. Long burp at the family dinner table. Candy corns + syrup on spaghetti.
7. Scene with the little girl at doctor’s office. “I’ll put in a good word with the big guy.”

Some favorite lines:

1. Does someone need a hug? 
2. Best way to spread Christmas cheer…
3. Smiling is my favorite 
4. Shares my affinity for elf culture. 
5. “I’m in a store and I’m singing.” reaction to announcement. 
6. Son of a nutcracker. Hit in face by snowball. 
7. Things worked out pretty good. They gave me a restraining order. 
8. Nice purple dress. Very purpley. 
9. Buddy the elf. What’s your favorite color? -answered phone that way
10. He’s an angry elf.

People Magazine’s “10 Fun Facts About Elf” by Kelsie Gibson click here.

Other discussion items:

1. New York at Christmas: parade, saw Santa at Macy’s, and discounts at Macy’s in the week after
2. Anne, tell us about the cast.
3. Will Ferrell movies (131 on imdb) Stranger than Fiction, Old School
4. Buddy’s accomplishments: saves Christmas by getting Santa back on track, straightens out the family dad changes, gets Jovie to overcome fear of singing
5. Montages: NYC stuff such as eating gum off subway rail, decorating Gimbals, with brother playing at Gimbals, the date “yellow ones don’t stop”
6. Movie with a lot of writers! framed as a story which I love. And they publish children’s books.

Before we go, let’s hear Anne’s U2 Sphere report…