James Caan’s Honest Thoughts About Meeting Will Ferrell on the Set of Elf
From left: Daniel Tay, James Caan and Will Ferrell in ‘Elf.’
Credit:
Everett
NEED TO KNOW
- 2003’s Elf is now a holiday classic, but star James Caan didn’t quite understand the appeal of Will Ferrell’s humor
- Ferrell opened up about Caan’s feelings in an interview with PEOPLE when the film was released
- But Caan changed his attitude when he saw the final film
Elf may now be celebrated as a Christmas classic, but its journey to success was not without challenges.
The 2003 film features Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, a human raised in the North Pole who travels to New York City to reunite with his birth father, Walter Hobbs, portrayed by James Caan. Mary Steenburgen plays Walter’s wife, Emily, while Daniel Tay appears as his younger brother, Michael. The cast also includes Zooey Deschanel as Jovie, the late Ed Asner as Santa Claus, and the late Bob Newhart as Papa Elf, with direction by Jon Favreau.
In a 2024 interview, Ferrell reflecting on filming shared, “There were catcalls of ‘Nice tights!’” on the streets of Manhattan. He added, “If they didn’t see a camera nearby, they’d avoid me. The best was when I’d hug people. They’d say, ‘You’re that guy from Saturday Night Live — have you gone insane?'”
Will Ferrell in ‘Elf.’
Everett
Despite Ferrell’s established comedic persona, his character’s on-set behavior puzzled Caan. “He’d look at me and say, ‘I thought this would be fun, but you’re just a guy. You’re not funny,'” Ferrell recounted. “I just told him, ‘Jimmy, it’s all a sham.'” Caan passed away in 2022 at the age of 82.
Though Elf grossed over $200 million and became a box office success, its potential as a holiday favorite was uncertain at the time of release. A review from PEOPLE described the film as falling short of its comic promise, drawing mixed responses from audiences. However, the film eventually captivated viewers, both young and old, solidifying its place in holiday traditions.
Will Ferrell (left) and James Caan in ‘Elf.’
Everett
In 2020, Caan expressed hopes for a sequel following the film’s success, feeling it could provide financial stability for his family. However, a follow-up was never produced.
James Caan in ‘Elf.’
Everett
A year later, Ferrell elaborated on why he declined a sequel, stating, “I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money.’” Ultimately, he felt he couldn’t reconcile his integrity with the project.
Despite this, Buddy the Elf endures as one of Ferrell’s most cherished roles. He caused a stir in December 2024 when he appeared at a hockey game as a inebriated Buddy. While some fans appreciated the performance, others expressed dissatisfaction, wanting him to remain true to the character.
Reflecting on Elf‘s lasting impact, Ferrell remarked in 2024, “It’s really quite special. I mean, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds. I’m so lucky to have a movie like that in my catalog.” Fans have even shared their affinity for the film, declaring they watch it year-round. “I have people come to me saying, ‘We watch Elf on July 4th. We just love it.’”
Ferrell concluded, “You never really have an idea of what’s going to land with people, and I love the fact that this movie continues to resonate in a way that’s pretty incredible.”
