elf

the year: 2003

the genre: comedy


the cast: Will Ferrell (Buddy); James Caan (Walter); Bob Newhart (Papa Elf); Ed Asner (Santa); Mary Steenburgen (Emily); Zooey Deschanel (Jovie)


the plot: As a baby in an orphanage, Buddy stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole. Now that he's grown, Santa agrees that he should go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Hobbs, on Santa's naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter's relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, Walter is forced to reevaluate his priorities.


don't miss: Buddy as the jack-in-the-box tester. The sound effect used for the jack-in-the-box is the same sound effect used by the laughing hyenas at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Fl.


listen for: "SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!"


did you know: near the end of the film, when Santa is showing Michael his nice list, all of the people on Santa's list worked on the movie: Victoria Down (key makeup artist) wants an English riding saddle with leathers and a crop; Drew Davidson (chief lighting technician) wants Rock-em Sock-em robots; Andy Nieman (assistant property master) wants a complete set of titanium drivers and a new golf glove; Nathan Tichenor (co-production coordinator) wants an Apple iBook with 1 gig hard drive and a built-in CD burner; Jimmy Miller (executive producer) wants a Hot Wheels turbo ultra race track with six cars, power launcher and track cleaner and Penny Gibbs (unit production manager) wants an Old MacDonald Farm Kit with Battery Operated Tractor and a Remote Controlled Cow-Tipper.


also listen for: "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"


extra bonus points: if you can name the four main food groups (for elves).