It's an unwritten rule: it's bad taste to bring out Christmasparaphernalia before Thanksgiving.
My tolerance for the new Christmas movie Elf, starring WillFerrell, might have been greater if I had more time to drum up myChristmas spirit.
Despite the fact that it was T-shirt weather a week ago, Elfmade full use of Ferrell's comedic talents. He plays Buddy, thehuman who crawls into Santa's sack as a baby and is raised as anelf by his elf-father (Bob Newhart).
As a man, Buddy makes a poor toymaker and is viewed as "special"by his fellow elves.
Buddy finally realizes he is human and far too large for theminiature elf toilets and beds, and sets off to New York City tofind his biological father.
Completely unaccustomed to life outside of the North Pole, thefunniest part of the film is how well Buddy, with a full elfcostume (including tights) goes unnoticed by the street masses inthe Big Apple.
Buddy eats already chewed gum off of the subway rails, spinsaround in the revolving door until he pukes and seeks out hisworkaholic father Walter (James Caan).
A Grinch of a children's book publisher, Walter does not maketime for his family and has Buddy thrown out of his office in theEmpire State building, believing him to be crazy.
Buddy then finds a home away from home in a department storewhere a store Santa is scheduled to visit. When the Santa comes,Buddy immediately spots him as a fake and incites a fight in frontof waiting children.
"You sit on a throne of lies," Buddy screams, as the Santa takesswings at him with a pole.
Before getting thrown in jail, Buddy makes the acquaintance ofworking-class sweet-singing elf Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), whoeventually starts to fall for Buddy's spirit and charm.
Other highlights include Buddy accidentally getting drunk andstarting a party in the mailroom and his fight with an angry midgetwho does not appreciate being called an elf.
Overall, it is one of the better Christmas comedies I've seen(although there is little competition), but the funniest parts arelike smaller skits within the entire film. I found the final endingto be a bit too sugarplum sweet for my taste, but it wasinevitable, as Christmas spirit is called upon to help Santa(Edward Asner) and his sleigh.
