In ELF, Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised as one of Santa's elves who discovers at age 30 that he has a real father named Walter (James Caan) who lives in New York City and is on Santa's "naughty" list.

Why is Buddy so childish in Elf?

Born December 18th, Buddy was adopted by elves and Santa Claus as a baby, so he never got to discover how exactly to be human. He developed certain skills like quickly decorating a large space, creating toys in short amounts of time and generally being a good person.

How old is Jovi in Elf?

Jovie In 'Elf' 'Memba Her?!

20 years ago today, American actress Zooey Deschanel was 23 years old when she played Jovie -- the Macy's store elf employee who is high-key NOT a fan of Christmas -- in the holiday comedy film "Elf" back in 2003.

How old is Zooey in Elf?

According to Zooey, laughing out loud while reading a comedy script was a good sign. Furthermore, she revealed that she was 21 when she acted in the movie. At that time, she had just left college to pursue acting. Deschanel read Elf's script at her parents' house and laughed out loud.

What year is the movie Elf set in?

New York is a city in New York state. It is the main setting for Elf. New York City, in Elf, is set in 2003, 2 years after 9/11 at the World Trade Center. Buddy the elf goes there to find his father, Walter Hobbs, who is working at the Empire State Building.

Will Ferrell Wasn't Sure About 'Elf' at First

How old is Elf on the shelf?

When did Elf on the Shelf start? The book and box set launched in 2005. The tradition has gained in popularity over the years, likely because the Scout Elves' shenanigans have been well-documented on social media. Parents and kids love to show off all the wild ways elves return to their homes each morning.

Was Elf filmed in a mental hospital?

Interestingly, while the movie is set in New York City and the North Pole, many interior shots were filmed in an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Riverview Hospital, located in Coquitlam, east of Vancouver, served as the backdrop for these scenes.

Did Buddy have a baby in Elf?

Buddy also marries Jovie and brings their newborn daughter Susie to visit Papa Elf.

What is Jovie's full name in Elf?

Jovie's married name is Hobbs, but her maiden name is never revealed.

How much did Will Ferrell get paid for Elf?

Elf was Will Ferrell's second box office hit. He reportedly received a whopping salary of $17 million for that film alone, more on par with what his talents would dictate in the mid-2000s. He was allegedly offered $29 million to act in an Elf sequel, but couldn't get his heart into it, so he turned it down.

Does Jovie really sing in Elf?

Actor sang Ella Fitzgerald's 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'

Elf star Zooey Deschanel has revealed that the scene where she sings in the shower was not in the original script of the film. The 2003 Christmas movie starred Deschanel as department store employee Jovie, opposite Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf.

What is Elf's girlfriend's name?

Elf then meets his girlfriend, Jovie. Micheal his half-brother asks Jovie out for Buddy. They go out trying to find a massive Christmas tree and ice skating, where Buddy and Jovie first kiss.

What happened with Buddy and his real dad?

Buddy grows up a elf and he is a adult when Papa Elf finally confesses to him that he is a human. His mother Susan Wells, gave him up for adoption. She died sometime afterwards. Buddy's father, Walter Hobbs, didn't know that he was born.

What happened to Buddy the Elf's mom?

When Buddy overhears that he is a human, Papa Elf explains that Buddy was born to Walter Hobbs and Susan Wells, and given up for adoption. Susan subsequently died and Walter, who now works for a children's book publisher at the Empire State Building in New York City, is unaware of Buddy's existence.

Is Buddy in Elf autistic?

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but there is absolutely no way Buddy has autism. He spent the entire movie INTERACTING with people.

Did Buddy get drunk in Elf?

In the mailroom, Buddy accidentally gets drunk, after thinking that the bottle of liquor is syrup (may fly over the heads of young children who think he's drinking syrup).

What happened to Elf 2?

Elf sequel will 'never happen' because of Will Ferrell's relationship with co-star. Before his death in July 2022, James Caan shed some light on why fans never got a sequel to the hit movie Elf.

What name does Elf call himself?

Cotton-headed ninny-muggins

One of the most charming things about Buddy is his whimsical way of seeing the world. But life isn't always so easy for Buddy in the North Pole. He's hopeless at making toys, calling himself a “cotton-headed ninny-muggins,” much to the shock of the other elves in Santa's Workshop.

Is Buddy the elf adopted?

The Story of Elf

The magic elves at Santa's workshop discover the orphan and instantly take a liking to him, naming him “Buddy” based on the label of his diaper. Papa Elf—played by veteran comedic actor, Bob Newhart—adopts Buddy and immerses him in the magical life and culture of the elves and Santa Clause.

Did James Caan really play the piano in Elf?

James Caan was a true delight. My favorite memory of him was shooting part of a montage for the end of Elf and he started playing piano — he played beautifully — I sang and he played and I was just astonished by his talent!

Who else auditioned for Elf?

Jim Carrey was supposed to play Buddy the Elf.

Although Jim Carrey didn't end up in this film you probably recognise him as playing The Grinch. An actor called Chris Farley was also asked to play Buddy but the writer of Elf didn't think he was a good fit. It took years before they found the perfect Buddy.

Where did they film Elf?

There's plenty of real New York on display of course, but most of the interiors were filmed in an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Who turned down the movie Elf?

1. Jim Carrey as Buddy the Elf in Elf. The script for Elf was first written in 1993, and at the time, Carrey was attached to star in it. However, the movie did not immediately go into production, and by the time it did in 2003, Carrey was no longer interested in the role.

Is Gimbels from Elf a real store?

Warner Bros. When the security guards at Walter's office throw Buddy out, they suggest he go back to Santaland at Gimbels. The highly festive store is heavily featured throughout the rest of "Elf," but viewers may not have realized that Gimbels was a real department store in New York City that closed in 1986.

What bridge was Elf filmed on?

In honor of the 20 year anniversary of the movie Elf. This is the bridge in the scene where Buddy tries to redeem himself in Micheals eyes with his snowballing skills, seeing off the “bad news” kids. The Pine Bank Arch Bridge in Central Park is located at West 62nd Street.