I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite!

There aren't a lot of people out there better than Will Ferrell, especially to play a lummox of an elf. "Buddy" snuck into Santa's satchel at an orphanage, and was then raised by elves in the North Pole. Strangely enough, Buddy is HUGE, but is too naive to understand that he's not actually a "natural elf." He goes to New York City to find his dad, and Christmas shenanigans ensue.

This is a relatively new movie, only made in 2003...but has been one of my favorites since the first time I saw it. Peggy actually got mad because I was laughing too loud at the theater. Will Ferrell is just such a goof...from his ridiculous yellow tights, to the Mike Brady-like permed wig he dons. His style of comedy is perfect for this part because it's just so ridiculous to see this huge guy trying to make toys and drinking gallons of maple syrup on spaghetti.

Of course there is the usual Christmas plot twist where it depends on how much people "believe in Santa" to have a happy ending...but it's totally worth the shmultz (and goodness knows I love the shmultz at Christmas) just to enjoy Will Ferrell in one of his only good movies since he left SNL. Old School came out the same year, and he's done some bit parts in other movies that he's mostly uncredited for...but those end up being the best he's done. Yeah, I just went over his resume since leaving SNL, and I stand by the original statement.