Elf review
#51
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Will Ferrell was great. Those stars in his eyes seemed almost genuine and real.
The ending was cliched, and I think they just should let the
comedic moments continue.
Also, if you've got Ed Asner and Bob Newhart then use them. Newhart should've been in more scenes with Ferrell.
*** stars
The ending was cliched, and I think they just should let the
comedic moments continue.
Also, if you've got Ed Asner and Bob Newhart then use them. Newhart should've been in more scenes with Ferrell.
*** stars
#52
DVD Talk Legend
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From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Just saw it today and liked it very much. Ferrell was well-cast in the lead, but his performance doesn't make me believe he'd be good in anything but roles like this. Not a Christmas classic, but still enjoyable.
Honk!
Honk!
#53
DVD Talk Hero
I loved it. ***1/2 out of *****. It was so cheesy, it was great - instant classic for me. Ferrell has got IT - whatever IT is he has it. James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, etc. were excellent, too.
Zooey Deschanel is so damn cute.
On the other hand, my wife thought it was okay and a little too cheesy. She laughed sporadically, but not as much as I did.
Zooey Deschanel is so damn cute.
On the other hand, my wife thought it was okay and a little too cheesy. She laughed sporadically, but not as much as I did.
#55
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elf review
The production of ELF is the subject of one of the two new Movies That Made Us on Netflix that dropped today.
Garry Shandling was their first choice for Walter, Buddy's dad, and James Caan was second on the list. This really surprised me because I have always felt that Caan was miscast.
They say that his Jimmy Cann-ness brought the edge to the character that they wanted, but I've always thought he was too edgy and veered the character into menacing.
ELF is a holiday staple now, and when I watch it I always wonder about Caan's casting, so it was quite a revelation to me the he was an actor they wanted from the get-go.
Good special. Lots of interesting info and well-produced with all the clips to liven up the talking heads.
Garry Shandling was their first choice for Walter, Buddy's dad, and James Caan was second on the list. This really surprised me because I have always felt that Caan was miscast.
They say that his Jimmy Cann-ness brought the edge to the character that they wanted, but I've always thought he was too edgy and veered the character into menacing.
ELF is a holiday staple now, and when I watch it I always wonder about Caan's casting, so it was quite a revelation to me the he was an actor they wanted from the get-go.
Good special. Lots of interesting info and well-produced with all the clips to liven up the talking heads.
#57
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Elf review
Funny reading through the thread, although the link to Geoff's review doesn't work. I was never a big WF fan so I didn't see Elf until last year. It was better than I expected. A little too silly in parts, but there's no denying its charm and lasting appeal.
#58
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elf review
Prescient.
Funny reading through the thread, although the link to Geoff's review doesn't work. I was never a big WF fan so I didn't see Elf until last year. It was better than I expected. A little too silly in parts, but there's no denying its charm and lasting appeal.
Funny reading through the thread, although the link to Geoff's review doesn't work. I was never a big WF fan so I didn't see Elf until last year. It was better than I expected. A little too silly in parts, but there's no denying its charm and lasting appeal.
#59
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Elf review
It was never on my radar.
#60
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
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#61
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Elf review
Wow, brutal. I wonder if he's softened his stance over the years?
#62
Administrator
Re: Elf review
But hey, I hear Polar Express is even more baffling.
#63
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Elf review
I actually haven’t seen Elf in full. I’ve seen parts of it, but it always seems like one of those movies I catch midway through or see the beginning but am busy to be able to watch.
#64
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elf review
I was 14 and a huge Will Ferrell fan when this came out. My mom and I even went to go see Anchorman the next year. But yeah, I only saw this like a couple of years ago. I don't really get it. It's not bad, but it just totally missed me and bypassed Holiday Classic status. I'll probably re-watch this year if I see it on Freeform, though.
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And as a comedy, you either find it funny or you don't. I think ELF is hilarious, but I can't talk anyone into sharing my sense of humor.
Won't do it this year, but in years past we have gotten a group together to see ELF in a theater at Xmas time. Even though, all the audience has seen it many times, the movie still generates big laughs from the crowd, and it is nice to see families bring their kids.
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#66
DVD Talk Special Edition
#67
Administrator
Re: Elf review
I re-watched this because it was on AMC last night. It's much better than I remembered (a sip of bourbon may have helped).
#71
DVD Talk Hero
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