James Caan Disappointed by Meeting Will Ferrell During "Elf" Production: 'It's All Fake'

The 2003 film Elf has become a staple of holiday viewing, but its journey to becoming a classic wasnt straightforward. The movie features Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole, who ventures to New York City to connect with his biological father, Walter Hobbs, portrayed by James Caan. Mary Steenburgen plays Walters wife Emily, and Daniel Tay is Michael, Walters young son. The supporting cast includes Zooey Deschanel as Jovie, Ed Asner as Santa Claus, and Bob Newhart as Papa Elf. Jon Favreau directed the film.

When Elf premiered, Ferrell shared with PEOPLE the challenges of filming in Manhattan. There were catcalls of Nice tights! he said, describing the publics reaction. If they didnt see a camera, they would avoid me. The best moments were when I hugged people, and they said, Youre that guy from Saturday Night Live have you lost it?

Despite Ferrells reputation for comedy, James Caan was reportedly unconvinced by his antics on set. Hed look at me and say, I thought this would be fun, but youre just a guy. Youre not funny, Ferrell recalled. I just told him, Jimmy, its all a sham. Caan passed away in 2022 at the age of 82.

At the box office, Elf was a hit, earning over $200 million, but critics were divided. PEOPLEs review suggested the film didnt fully realize its comedic potential, particularly criticizing the ending. While children were captivated, adult viewers were less enthusiastic about Ferrells over-the-top performance.

Over time, the film won audiences of all ages. Ferrell shared with Variety in 2024 that Caan later praised his performance after seeing the completed film. He said, I thought everything you were doing while we were filming was way too over the top. Now that I see it in the movie, its brilliant, Ferrell said, calling it the best compliment. He also noted that Caans frustration on set was genuine.

In 2020, Caan expressed hopes for a sequel, anticipating a franchise. However, it never materialized. A year later, Ferrell explained he declined the follow-up because he couldnt promote it sincerely if it fell short of expectations. I just couldnt turn down that much money, but I also couldnt honestly say it was good, he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Buddy the Elf remains one of Ferrells most beloved characters. In December 2024, he appeared at a hockey game in character, though some fans criticized his antics as inconsistent with the original portrayal. Reflecting on the film, Ferrell told PEOPLE, Its really quite special. It continues to grow and establish itself as a holiday classic. Im so fortunate to have a movie like that in my catalog.

Fans watch Elf year-round, sometimes on unexpected dates like July 4th. People tell me, We just love it, Ferrell said. You never know what will resonate with audiences, and I love that this film continues to connect with people in such an incredible way.

Author: Sophia Brooks