Shakylegs

Elf
Having reviewed movies for more than three years, I try to stay away from giving my opinion on flicks now. However, yesterday, the milliner and I went to Elf and, let me tell you, it was great.
So, without further ado, here's the review. Jon Favreau directed, the same guy behind "Made" and "Swinger." He was the right choice. Will Ferrell is incredibly well cast as a man boy; he's able to convey his wonderment, while just barely hiding an underlying righteous-indignation tendency that scratches at the surface.
Unlike, apparently, Cat in the Hat, product placements are rarely apparent, making their appearance so rarely that they can easily pass you by. Special effects are kept to a minimum. For the kids, Elf highlights and reinforces the magic that is Christmas, while at the same time giving a nod to the older movie-goers, giving precedence to toys that many of us enjoyed when we younger: Britelites, Etch-a-sketch, etc. There is a love interest going up, but it doesn't feel forced. More the wonder that a man boy would feel in his loins when meeting a girl for the first time. Bob Newhart - Bob Newhart! - narrates wonderfully in his halting way.
So, it's a story of redemption, of magic, of nostalgia. I really didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Finished off the day by heading over to Ogilvy's to check out their window display, and then I prepared for us a lovely, although cholesterol- and fat-laden meal of mushroom crêpes with hollandaise sauce and gruyère.

posted by Michel @ 9:51 AM