The recent trailers for the return of Ron Burgundy and the Action News team, has had me wanting to revisit some of Will Ferrell's other former glories.
Like most, I find Will Ferrell's brand of comedy very hit and miss. For every Anchorman we get a Land of The Lost, occasionally he branches out into more serious comic roles like last years Everything Must Go and 2006' Stranger Than Fiction.
However, 2003' Elf remains his only Christmas movie to date but is still one of his funniest films. Ferrell plays Buddy a human raised by Elf in the North Pole, when he learns that his biological father is on Santa's naughty list he journeys to New York to find his true identity.
Buddy finds human culture baffling, and once he meets his father Walter (James Cann) he explores the city as only an over sized elf can. Director Jon Favreau keeps things uncomplicated behind the camera, his trademarked light touch that served Iron Man so well isn't quite yet up to scratch but little flair is needed for a glossy kids film.
Geek favourite Zooey Deschanel plays buddy's love interest Jovie, and it's another in a long line of sweet and quirky performances that make you feel all warm and happy inside.
"I think you're really beautiful and I feel really warm when I'm around you and my tongue swells up." Buddy to Jovie
There's even a brief appearances from Game of Throne's Peter Dinklage, and Tenacious D member Kyle Gass.
You can't help but wish you could see the world as Buddy does, granted his enthusiasm for Christmas and good will verges on the insane, but it's still a childlike disposition on the world that all us jaded adults could do with.
"I just like to smile. Smiling's my favourite." Buddy The Elf
Elf is a ridiculous amount of fun, Ferrell is endearing as Buddy and despite an utterly predictable ending the movie still manages to raise a Christmas cheer.
Everybody should have a friend like Buddy.
"I'm sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR." Buddy The Elf
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