Fresh
Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the "true spirit of Christmas" must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle.
David Ansen, Newsweek
Elf
This holiday, discover your inner elf.
2003 · 1h 37m · PG
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Directed by
Jon Favreau
Overview
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.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
86%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Sure, Elf feels a little too feel-good at the end, but what do you expect? It's a Christmas movie! Anything else would be the cinematic equivalent of finding coal in your stocking.
Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Rotten
The cast wrings laughs out of David Berenbaum's script as if it were a damp washcloth, but even they have trouble selling frenetic button-pushing as the Christmas spirit.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
Fresh
A disarmingly funny holiday comedy.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Rotten
The film soon bogs down in fake hugs and a fakier climax involving Santa (Ed Asner) and his downed sled.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
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