I wasn't in the mood to watch this movie. I don't like elves. I wasn't in the Christmas spirit. The movie looked dumb, but D.L. insisted we see it, and it got a lot of good reviews. Once we sat down in the theater, wow! Even from the opening credits, the movie had charm and lots of genuine laughs--not just chuckles or intellectual, "Ah ha! That's so funny" remarks. People were actually laughing (granted, I was the loudest in the entire theater). Like most movies these days, though, the style (a mix of refreshing and predictable jokes along with some fine performances and physical comedy) outweighs the substance, but if you're going to
Elf for substance, you have other problems. Basically, it's all laughs and no plot. There are no quiet moments of characters sitting together and being introspective or building even a quiet tension. The romance is almost null (they meet, they have an awkward moment, they date, they kiss, they have kids), so is the character development. Ultimately, though, who cares? Just go in and laugh yourself silly. Then, be amazed that it's actually Zooey Deschanel's
real singing voice in the shower scene...
--A.Y.