Elf

While It's a Wonderful Life may help us to count our blessings what Elf does for us, year after year, is make us laugh.

We watched this right before Christmas with my daughter who loves this movie and can recite certain parts by heart. I knew we were in for it when she showed up with her Santa, I know him shirt.

For those few who have somehow missed this movie in it's constant airplay every December it tells the tale of Buddy the Elf played hilariously by Will Ferrell. Buddy is not an elf, years ago he crawled into a toy bag as Santa visited an orphanage and now as a full grown elf something is wrong. He towers above the other kids and he crushes his Dad, played by Bob Newhart, when he sits on his lap.

His elf father tells him his father is a businessman in New York. This man, played by James Caan, is on the naughty list. Buddy sets off to find him and has a host of adventures in the big city. He works at a store, meets a girl who sings like an angel ( Zooey Deschanel ) and becomes part of his father's new family. In the end Buddy saves Christmas and helps Santa played in this movie by Ed Asner.

This is a great family movie. There is nothing here to hide your kids from, no double entendres. This is a movie we can all enjoy. Will Ferrell is a joy in this role.