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Elf review

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Old 11-13-03 | 06:41 PM
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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
Old 11-14-03 | 04:27 PM
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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!
Old 12-12-03 | 10:22 PM
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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.
Old 12-12-03 | 10:44 PM
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Certainly seems like it may be destined for the "Christmas Classic" status.
Old 12-01-20 | 02:03 PM
  #55  
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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.
Old 12-02-20 | 10:01 AM
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Re: Elf review

No one mentioned Tyrion Lannister was in the movie.
Old 12-02-20 | 11:05 AM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by Gyno Rhino
Certainly seems like it may be destined for the "Christmas Classic" status.
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.
Old 12-02-20 | 11:13 AM
  #58  
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
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.
This is the part where I am going to spend a good chunk of my day pondering how someone could avoid seeing ELF for 16 years, unless you hibernate like a bear every winter.
Old 12-02-20 | 03:13 PM
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Re: Elf review

It was never on my radar.
Old 12-02-20 | 03:57 PM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
Funny reading through the thread, although the link to Geoff's review doesn't work.
https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/8116
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Old 12-03-20 | 08:15 AM
  #61  
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Re: Elf review

Wow, brutal. I wonder if he's softened his stance over the years?
Old 12-03-20 | 09:16 AM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by Count Dooku
This is the part where I am going to spend a good chunk of my day pondering how someone could avoid seeing ELF for 16 years, unless you hibernate like a bear every winter.
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.

But hey, I hear Polar Express is even more baffling.
Old 12-03-20 | 10:22 AM
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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.
Old 12-03-20 | 12:59 PM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by IBJoel
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.
.
The thing about ELF is that at its climax it really becomes a Christmas movie all about Christmas cheer and spreading love, but mostly the movie is just a fish out of water comedy.
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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Old 12-04-20 | 10:17 PM
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Re: Elf review

I love this movie! I try and watch is every year around this time. I always tear up at the end when Santa flies over everyone's heads!
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Old 12-04-20 | 10:36 PM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by mickey65
I love this movie! I try and watch is every year around this time. I always tear up at the end when Santa flies over everyone's heads!

Spoilers!!!!!
Old 12-07-20 | 12:23 PM
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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).
Old 12-07-20 | 02:54 PM
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Re: Elf review

One of my favorite Christmas movies!
Old 12-07-20 | 04:00 PM
  #69  
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Re: Elf review

It's embarrassing to not love this movie.

A bonafide Christmas classic. Probably on the Mount Rushmore of Christmas movies.
Old 12-07-20 | 09:56 PM
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Re: Elf review

Who was the DVDtalk'er who is on the razor scooter in the NYC scene? I always remember that when watching it.
Old 12-08-20 | 01:11 PM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by Chrisedge
Who was the DVDtalk'er who is on the razor scooter in the NYC scene? I always remember that when watching it.
Vaguely remember something. Didn't his username start with A... like An-something
Old 12-08-20 | 01:44 PM
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Re: Elf review

Originally Posted by TomOpus
Vaguely remember something. Didn't his username start with A... like An-something
Dabaomb

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk...vie-elf-3.html

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