Sure, the idea that a human might be raised among elves at the North Pole without ever realizing it may be patently ridiculous, but in Jon Favreau's uproarious comedy Elf, it all makes perfect sense. Will Farrell is absolutely wonderful as Buddy, a kind and loving human who loves everybody, especially his adopted father (Bob Newhart) and, of course, Santa Claus (Ed Asner). When he learns about his true heritage, he sets off for New York City to get to know his human father (James Caan) and make friends with the beguiling Jovie (Zooey Deschanel).
The film has become a popular classic since its release. Here are a few amazing fun facts about Elf.
Fun Fact #1: Though the film appears to be set at Gimbels department store in New York City, the store chain had actually been closed for more than 16 years.
Famously, the Gimbels department store in Manhattan was the setting for the Christmas-themed Miracle on 34th Street, but the store chain closed by 1987. Visual effects were added to another Manhattan building to make it look like Gimbels, while interiors were actually filmed at Macy's flagship store, a longtime rival of Gimbels.
Fun Fact #2: Jovie was not a singer in the original script.
The role of store elf Jovie, who quickly becomes a love interest for Buddy, did not include anything about her singing voice. Director Jon Favreau did not even know that she could sing; once he realized her talent, he added it to the script.
Fun Fact #3: In part, the film drew inspiration from best-selling author David Sedaris.
In a very funny article, Sedaris wrote about his real-life experiences as a Christmas elf at Macy's and Favreau says that he drew "a lot of inspiration" from that account. Amy Sedaris, David Sedaris' sister, plays James Caan's secretary in the film; Favreau knew her from her days in Chicago comedy troupe Second City.
Fun Fact #4: Macy's didn't like the idea of a fake Santa.
Favreau also revealed that Macy's did not want to be associated with a scene in which a store Santa Claus (played by Artie Lange) was revealed to be a fake. The director says that caused "long and hard" thinking, ultimately prompting the scene to be shot at a cafeteria in Vancouver, Canada, because the filmmakers were "unwilling to change the content."
Fun Fact #5: Will Ferrell improvised his own lyrics.
Ferrell says he "threw Buddy's mind" at songs he was expected to sing, describing it as "stream of consciousness" singing. He admits it sounds "awkward and weird," which was the intention.
Fun Fact #6: James Caan loves doing comedy.
Caan may forever be known for his signature performance as the angry and impetuous gangster Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Yet, he says loves doing comedy and counts Elf as one of his favorite comedy roles, noting that Will Ferrell is "really serious, but really funny."
Fun Fact #7: Will Ferrell played a fake Santa Claus.
In Elf, Will Ferrell is outraged when he realizes that the Santa Claus in a store is not the real Santa, but instead an actor (Artie Lange). Ferrell, though, has experience pretending to be Santa Claus; he spent five weeks in California at an outdoor mall as the character, with his friend and comedy cohort Chris Kattan as an elf.
Fun Fact #8: A famed child star makes a cameo appearance.
We love Elf, which ranks among the best holiday-themed movies ever made, but we freely admit we haven't seen it as many times as the much beloved A Christmas Story, which starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, a kid who was obsessed with the perfect Christmas present. So it's very appropriate that the actor makes an uncredited cameo appearance as Ming Ming, a master toy maker.
Fun Fact #9: The movie originally featured a hockey scene.
Alas, it didn't make the final cut, but it's pretty funny to watch it now.
Fun Fact #10: Jon Favreau made his first cameo appearance in the film.
Actor, writer and director Favreau is now known for his many cameo appearances in Marvel blockbusters, but his first true cameo showed up in Elf, in which he appears as a doctor who confirms Buddy's human parentage. Favreau also voiced a kindly narwhal who pops up when Buddy is leaving the North Pole for the first time.
