21 Things You Might Not Know About ‘Elf’

[mbcdefg]

Dec 4, 2014 14:41:36 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

17. FERRELL FROLICKED ALL OVER NEW YORK CITY IN CHARACTER.


The final day of Elf's New York shooting was paired down from a massive crew to just three people: its star, its director, and one cameraman. Together, this trio traveled around the city, looking for mischief for Buddy to get into with random passersby turned background extras. This included him leapfrogging across a pedestrian walk, happily accepting flyers, and getting his shoes shined, all of which made it into the movie's cheerful montage.

This is one of my favorite parts of the movie, and it's so neat to read that it was unscripted.

Especially because MH has a friend who used to take every single flyer he was offered when they went to NYC to hang out, so after this movie came out MH and their friends would keep saying, "THANK you! THANK you!" to the guy.

9. BUDDY WAS BULLIED IN AN EARLY VERSION.

In first drafts of David Berenbaum's Elf script, Buddy's decision to seek out his dad was in part because he was being hassled by the actual elves for being different. Favreau pushed to take out this element. He preferred to keep the North Pole characters warm, even when Buddy bugs them. In the DVD commentary, Favreau offers, “It explained why Buddy was doing all these good things in New York if he grew up in a world where everybody was so sweet even when he’s obviously screwing everything up and doesn’t fit in at all.”

We watched Elf earlier this week when we were putting up our Christmas tree, and I had commented to MH that I liked that all the elves were kind to Buddy.


And, man, Bob Newhart was a great choice to play Papa Elf. He's fantastic.

[stealthmom]

I remember going to gimbel's with my mom when I was little.

[picksthemusic]

This will go down as my all-time favorite Christmas movie aside from It's A Wonderful Life.

[litebright]

I had no idea that Mingming was Ralphie!

And I'm totally going to look for James Caan's reaction at the doctor's office the next time we watch it.

[josieposy]

Suddenly wondering if the gum thing was real in the NYC montage.

[Deleted]

litebright that is the best santa I've ever seen. What a fantastic picture with your girls!

[mbcdefg]

Dec 4, 2014 15:29:07 GMT -5 litebright said:

And I'm totally going to look for James Caan's reaction at the doctor's office the next time we watch it.

0:50 mark

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y57dSexzBhc

[moreace01]

I cannot imagine anyone other than Will Farrell playing Buddy.

Jim Carrey would not have had the same effect.

[mbcdefg]

Dec 4, 2014 15:38:26 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Suddenly wondering if the gum thing was real in the NYC montage.

OMG, that scene made me dry-heave. Even if it's fake, thinking of eating ANYTHING off a pole or the ground in NYC makes me sick! Every time I get home from being in the city I feel like I'm covered with a thin film of grime.

@moreace1 Jim Carrey would not have had the same effect.

I feel like Jim Carrey would've gotten very annoying VERY fast, whereas Will Ferrel was more charming.

[josieposy]

Dec 4, 2014 15:41:22 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Dec 4, 2014 15:29:07 GMT -5 litebright said:

And I'm totally going to look for James Caan's reaction at the doctor's office the next time we watch it.

0:50 mark

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y57dSexzBhc

Oh man that was masterful!

[elleblue]

The only other new info beside Jim Carrey being originally considered for the role back in the 90's was that the wannabe dentist elf in Rudolph was named Hermey. I always thought it was Herby. Huh. 

[ChillyMcFreeze]

This is my favorite movie of. all. time. And "I'm 26 years old" is one of my favorite lines! I seriously pph this movie.

[meshaliuknits]

#22: eclaires was cast as Buddy's hype elf