MOVIEVIBE ← Back to Home

Elf

2003 • 1h 37m •
Comedy Family Fantasy
MOVIEVIBE Rating
★ 6.7/10
4,691 reviews
Your Rating
Elf

When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic.

"Discover your inner elf."

Top Billed Cast

Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
Buddy
James Caan
James Caan
Walter
Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart
Papa Elf
Ed Asner
Ed Asner
Santa
Mary Steenburgen
Mary Steenburgen
Emily
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel
Jovie
Daniel Tay
Daniel Tay
Michael
Faizon Love
Faizon Love
Gimbels Manager

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

P Peter McGinn Verified TMDB Critic
2020-08-18

Okay, this is a fun movie, what I consider to be one of those classic Christmas movies I am willing to watch every year. And for me, that is a fairly short list, such as A Christmas Story and the ubiquitous It’s a Wonderful Life. (Interestingly, Peter Billingsley, who plays the lead Ralphie role in A Christmas Story, has an adult role in Elf.)

The script goes over the top a bit sometimes, resulting in cringeworthy moments for me, but it is harmless and easily forgiven. There is wit, pathos and sight gags galore. I like the chemistry between Will Farrell and Zooey, and it is a treat to hav...

K Kamurai Verified TMDB Critic
2020-12-10

Good watch, will likely watch again, and can recommend.

For all the good this movie has in it, there is a fair amount of annoying as well, which is what keeps it from being a great movie.

A family reconnection trope, with a character out of his element trope, crossed with one of the most annoyingly positive characters of all time trope.

Ultimately, it's a sweet, hear warming story that really captures the spirit of family, Christmas, and togetherness.

It also captures all of the insanity Will Ferrell can conjure up for his character, basically as if he wrote a SNL Christmas special...

W Wuchak Verified TMDB Critic
2020-12-28

_**Destined to be played on TV every Christmas the rest of your life**_

Released in 2003 and directed by Jon Favreau, "Elf" is a Christmas dramedy/fantasy starring Will Farrell as an orphaned infant who stows away on Santa Claus' sleigh and isn't discovered until he's at the North Pole, where he's adopted by Papa Elf and named Buddy. After growing up as an elf, he travels to New York City to meet his father (James Caan) and starts a relationship with his neglected younger half-brother. He also starts a relationship with a department store worker (Zooey Deschanel) and helps spread Christmas ...

C CinemaSerf Verified TMDB Critic
2022-11-19

Whilst delivering toys to an orphanage, a curious baby crawls into Santa's sack. Back at the North Pole shortly after, this young lad makes his presence felt, is named "Buddy" and put in the care of "Papa Elf" (Bob Newhart). Years later, "Buddy" (Will Ferrell) has now grown to full height and isn't really fitting in - on any level. His adopted dad tells him something of his real parents and off to New Work he goes in search of his father "Walter" (James Caan) who had, hitherto, been completely unaware of this son's existence. Hard-nosed "Walter" is initially disinterested, but thanks to a phot...

A Andre Gonzales Verified TMDB Critic
2023-05-15

In my opinion this is the best Christmas movie ever made. Its so hilarious that you laugh throughout. If you havent seen this, i highly suggest that you do....