Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

Home | All Reviews | Festival Courses | Film and Media Studies | SBCC | | Log in

1. Tim Devlin 12.07.08 / 11pm

   Elf is definitely one of my favorite holiday films. First off, the story is awesome. The fact of having a human grow up in the North Pole with a bunch of elves is very clever. The Christmas sets that are made for the beginning of the story remind me of the exciting holiday spirit. Besides that I think this is one of Will Ferrell’s funniest movies. He plays his part so well and he is always fulfilled with a happy spirit that keeps its audience involved. Plus the setting of Manhattan for a holiday film makes the film that much better. The film needed to be in a city like Manhattan that celebrates the holiday season with so much glory and an occasion snow ball fight in Central Park.
2. Sara Zendehnam 03.16.09 / 5pm

   Elf is definitely high up on the list of my favorite movies. I love Will Ferrell and I think all of his work is absolutely hilarious, including this one. The mix of the imaginative world of Santa and the North Pole and the real world of New York made the movie that much more interesting. Buddy the elf is so naive and innocent and enters a world full of rejection and drama and still keeps up his childish, fun attitude. The end of the movie where they make everyone believe in Santa is the best part because it brings you back to the days that you believed in Santa so much and slept next to the Christmas tree in hopes of stealing a glance at the jolly man.
3. Olivia Koke 04.13.10 / 4pm

   Elf is one of my favorite holiday movies. It is a very funny movie that any one would like. I think Will Ferrell did a great job in this movie, and he is so funny in it. He did a great job at people such a happy and joyful “elf.”This film can get anyone excited to Christmas time and it is a great way to get the holiday spirit started. Buddy the elf lives at the north pole and never finds out for himself he is not an elf. When he enters into the real world, he still has his childish and fun attitude towards life, even though some people are not nice to him. The end of the movie, when he gets everyone to believe in santa, is a great representation of how when kids were young and had so much joy during Christmas and so excited about it.
4. Alex Cambas 06.27.10 / 9pm

   “Elf” will definitely be one of the Christmas classics playing on ABC family in the next 5 years. I definitely think you hit the nail on the head with the description of this movie. This is an amazing upbeat funny Christmas movie that’s great for all ages. However I still wish they included maybe some other types of holidays in it to spice it up a little bit. Possibly to have Will Farrel take on a rabbi or something. I thought this would get rid of the repetitiveness a little bit and give it a little more “pa-zaz”. However in the end this film is a true holiday classic and will be around for years to come. Thank you for writing about one of the all time best holiday movie.
5. Kim Harries 10.25.14 / 7am

   Great review, I too look forward to the holidays and all that accompanies them. Elf is a guilty pleasure that leaves you with an upbeat Christmas feeling and a giggle or two as you recall Buddy the Elf and his antics in New York.

   I’m not sure that I would put this film in the same category as A Christmas Story, but it’s an easy, fun way to bring the family together and enjoy the season.
6. Natalie LeVee 10.14.21 / 3pm

   Elf is one of my all time favorite movies to watch not only around Christmas time, but honestly anytime I am just looking for a funny and happy movie to watch. Will Ferrell always does such a great job, and it is clear that there was creative thoughts that went into this movie. Being released in 2003, there are clear things you see in the filming, acting, setup, etc. that are very different from movies that are studied from the 1900’s. Just in the action that happens alone, the viewer is able to see how the film industry has evolved so much over time.
7. Zachary Flood 10.23.21 / 5pm

   I totally agree that the holiday season is definitely boosted by its rich history in great films themed for the winter and the holidays that are going on throughout that time of year. I personally must watch this movie every year as it is one of my favorite all-time movies and it gets me in a holiday spirit. I love how the film starts off in a fantasy land of the North Pole and even has stop motion scenes that are brought into it. It then goes to the city of New York where they really capture the holiday spirit and create scenes that are very famous and will last forever. I really enjoy how it is a comedy movie and also perfect for a family, Elf has always brought my family together for enjoyment and that says a lot about the film and the effort that was put into it. Will Ferrell is one of my favorite actors and I think he did a great job in playing the character, Buddy. The review adds that Buddy has “child-like innocence” and I believe that is a perfect way of describing his character and role.

Home | SBCC | Class Schedule | Film and Media Studies

Contact: Prof. Nico MaestuCopyright 2007-23 Log in