Elf's hopeful and uplifting response to post-9/11 cynicism is gentle, right up to a climax where the world is huddled around their television sets watching news reports trying to figure out what's that thing that crashed in New York City.

| Dec 11, 2023

It’s not just the lines, written by David Berenbaum, that work... It’s Ferrell’s bullish commitment to the concept that holds the Jon Favreau-directed film together.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 1, 2023

Even if Elf might be a bit overplayed during the holiday season, Ferrell’s puppy-like enthusiasm has kept this film fresh even after all these years.

| Aug 21, 2023

Elf isn’t a pre-fabricated piece of synthetic Christmas cheer like such junk as Deck the Halls, Jingle All the Way or the worst-of-the-worst Christmas With the Kranks.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 15, 2023

Just not in time for the holidays, a recent revisit with the surprise Christmas classic earns a smidgen more love from our resident crusty curmudgeon.

| Original Score: 4.5 | Jan 23, 2023

Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Peter Dinklage, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, and, most surprisingly, James Caan nailing their supporting turns. Sometimes at Christmas, you just want to laugh.

| Dec 5, 2022

Elf stands tall with the feature being as funny today as it was in 2003.

| Original Score: A- | Aug 28, 2022

“Elf” is utterly absurd and unashamedly silly and I say that as a compliment. Even if you aren’t a Will Ferrell fan, he’s an absolute blast in this fun and festive holiday treat.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 20, 2022

A sugarcoated, light hearted, funny Christmas romp.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 24, 2021

Classic family Christmas fodder: the gorgeous candyfloss colour schemes and New York in all its resplendent wintry beauty help the film pass effortlessly by too.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 8, 2021

Captures the spirit that I long to have during the holiday season.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 7, 2020

Simplicity. Goodness. Sugar-coated. Nostalgic. Maybe a little hokey at times. Endearing. Enchanting. Go celebrate Christmas a little early with Elf -- a new Christmas classic for the 21st century.

| Nov 6, 2019

It's a really fun holiday film.

| Original Score: A- | May 9, 2019

There are few cinematic ventures that capture the Christmas spirit in such abundance and hit the Holiday target so directly on the nose.

| Dec 11, 2018

Will Ferrell's over-the-top performance in Elf is one of the reasons why the comedy has managed to stand the test of time.

| Nov 27, 2018

Families have discovered how funny and how well this little film tells its King-sized holiday message: the only size that counts is how big your heart is.

| Original Score: B+ | Nov 30, 2015

While his plotting may leave a little to be desired, Favreau directs with speed, humour and efficiency.

| Dec 14, 2014

Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the "true spirit of Christmas" must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle.

| Dec 14, 2014

Raise a glass of cheer to Ferrell and Favreau. They might not have created a full-scale holiday classic here, but they've certainly given us a fresh, sparkly new bauble to hang on our perennial tree.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 14, 2014

Will Ferrell has the ability to turn those wide eyes and that big body into a potent comic weapon, so Elf gets a good number of laughs from his complete, innocent abandonment to his role as a lummox-size elf.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 14, 2014