Elf is genuinely good. Not just Saturday Night Live-movie good, when the movie has some funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity; Elf is a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who returns to the human world to find his father. And because the writing, directing, and acting are all genuinely good, Elf is also genuinely funny. Will Farrell, as Buddy the adopted elf, is hysterically sincere. James Caan, as his rediscovered father, executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel, as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love, is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that's sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly, Elf feels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Ed Asner as Santa Claus.
1. Pennies From Heaven - Louis Prima
2. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
3. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Lena Horne
4. Sleigh Ride / Santa Claus Party - Ferrante And Teicher/Les Baxter
5. Baby It's Cold Outside - Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel
6. Jingle Bells - Jim Reeves
7. Nutcracker Suite - Brian Setzer
8. Christmas Island - Leon Redbone
9. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
10. Winter Wonderland - Leon Redbone
11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Eddy Arnold
12. Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston
Elf
