Elf (2003)

* * *

A strange comedy with an adorable main character to fall in love with. The comedy and Christmas message seem to get into each other’s way and this makes for a confused film and a slightly slapdash ending but it can still deliver on laughs.

Will Farrell’s character (Buddy) is wonderful as he is so happy that it is difficult not to like him and all his eccentricities. The other characters are mundane in comparison and have little presence in this film, this might be a direct attempt by the film makers to emphasise Buddy.

The story is plain and seems to be of secondary importance compared to Farrell’s performance. From the very beginning anyone watching could work out the ending. This is not necessarily to the film’s detriment as Christmas films are rarely ground-breaking, however this one was almost overly predictable.