Elf

Former Saturday Night Live cheerleader Will Ferrell follows up his hilarious romp as a streaker in Old School by playing an orphaned human who is raised as one of Santa’s helpers, in this big-hearted comedy. When the overgrown toymaker realizes that size does make a difference in the North Pole, he ventures to Manhattan to find his biological father who just so happens to be on the “naughty” list. The excellent cast includes Zooey Deschanel as a department-store elf, James Caan as the father in need of character enhancement, Bob Newhart as surrogate papa elf and Ed Asner as old St. Nick. This amusing, sweet-natured ode to retro-Christmas warmth and cheer is directed by Swingers and Made star Jon Favreau.