The movie, is in fact, magic.
There are more than a few reasons whyElfworks as well as it does.
There is also the Ferrell of it all.
Jim Carrey and Chris Farley are just two stars who circled Buddy the Elf.
And neither likely would have brought Ferrells bubbly effervescence to the role.
Still, it can be easy to forget Ferrell wasnt the only breakthrough inElf.
It was the casting of a relatively unknown singer and actress that would instillElfwith its greatest lesson.
One actress they were looking at was good at skateboarding.
But I had a cabaret act at the time and I was performing a lot.
She also has the good sense to be weirded out by Buddy in a scene written specifically for her.
You know the moment.
She was a singer and shes in a cabaret band and has very classic, old-fashioned looks.
She almost looks like a silent movie star… but also very real and quirky and dry.
They tend to be drier performers as opposed to broad performers, Favreau added.
I really like that delivery of comedy.
I really like when people sort of throw it away.
Also in that original draft, Jovie never really sings.
But theyre mostly here to see Santa is real and tell Buddy they were wrong about him.
The finished film has only Buddy ride along in the Big Mans sleigh.
And, eventually, others join in.
That wasnt in the original script.
Thats something I think gives the movie heart.
It gaveElfits final splash of fairy dust.
Twenty years later, we can still hearElf, loud and clear.
