Buddy (Ferrell) is a baby in an orphanage when Santa (Asner) pays a visit. Unbeknownst to the jolly fat man - who is apparently Jewish? - Buddy sneaks into his sack and winds up back at the North Pole. Raised by old Papa Elf (Newhart) who never took the time to settle down before, Buddy, who was named after the diaper brand he was wearing a la Marty McFly, grows up (and up) feeling a little out of place. It's thirty years, however, before Papa Elf breaks the news to him. Learning he was adopted, he also learns that his biological father (Caan) never knew he existed and is a big time publisher working in the Empire State Building. Unfortunately he is also on the naughty list. Determined to meet him anyway and give him lots of hugs while eating sugar plums, Buddy sets out and manages to walk all the way from the North Pole to NYC before the beginning of the movie is over, in a nice little scene that pays homage to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Buddy meets his father, as well as his stepfamily (Steenburgen and Daniel Tay) who are a lot nicer than the N-listed head of the household. He also falls for a enblonded Zooey Deschanel who plays a Gimbels' employee.
While some parts feel typical of Ferrel - such as a twelve second belch and a raccoon attack - the movie evokes an innocent feel that is seriously atypical of the crude actor. There are some clever parts and some truly endearing scenes. The plot is about as predictable as something very predictable and is very obvious about its morals of the story and Christmas feelgood message. There are also a few kind of weird scenes, particularly with the Central Park Patrol, that might be a little off putting to some.
When all is said and done, however, this is a modern Christmas movie that doesn't suck, and it has indeed made it onto many a person's favorite holiday movie list.
*** (3/5 stars)
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