Elf

By EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating: * * *)

Santa hoisted himself on to Whitcoulls' verandah in Queen St this weekend, so it's officially the Christmas season, and here's the first videho-ho-ho (that was targeted to our 7-year-old readership, okay?) of the year.

Jon Favreau, who's behind the camera this time, and his cast, starring Will Ferrell and James Caan, manage a heartwarmer that has good family values and isn't too heavy on the sap-o-meter.

Buddy, a young orphan, crawls into Santa's bag of toys on Christmas Eve and is taken back to the big guy's workshop at the North Pole. He gains a surrogate dad (Bob Newhart) and is reared as one of Santa's elves, although he's several times taller than the rest of the gang.

One day our Buddy hears that his real dad ain't dead, he's called Walter and he lives in New York. Time, thinks Buddy, to head south for the winter and hook up with the old man.

Walter is less than impressed by the late-arriving son in a bright green suit and pointy shoes); the rest of the city writes him off as just a little odd. This does not faze our Buddy: he will warm the heart of grouchy Dad, he will win the heart of Jovie, the beautiful shop assistant (Zooey Deschanel), and touch the heart of cold, wintry Manhattan. Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Well, they will by the end, because Santa (Edward Asner) will need their help, but we mustn't give the show away for our 7-year-old readers.

The two-disc DVD contains a sackful of goodies, especially in the interactive Fun And Games section. Younger viewers get an insight into how films are made and what the various crew members do in the Film School for Kids feature; there are versions for the more grown-up members of the family, too. Ferrell contributes a video diary from the shoot, Favreau provides commentary, trivia, and walks the audience through eight deleted and extended scenes.

Two musical notes are Elf Jukebox, with Favreau providing the soundcheck, and a Christmas sing-a-long in Elf Karaoke.

* DVD, video rental out now