redban02

I just watched it. The movie is flawed yet highly watchable.

The movie has its moments. The whodunnit story is pretty fun to follow, especially in the middle act. I really found myself guessing who took the little girl; I even wondered whether she was hallucinating too. Also, I like the airplane setting. The movie reminded me a little of Red Eye, with Cilian Murphy. The movie's runtime is just about right. I found Jodie Foster to be alright as the lead

The movie isn't better than a 6.5/10 though. The movie really fumbles the final act. The reveal at the end isn't satisfying. The bad guys turn out to be the characters who appeared so villainous from the start; I was so surprised the film actually went with them as the culprits because it seemed too obvious. The movie also contains a ton of plot holes and eye rolling occurrences. The premise, for example, relies on the laughably remarkable fact that nobody on the entire plane saw the little girl

6.5/10.

This movie came out in 2003, and I finally got around to watching it on November 29, 2025. I saw at the theaters as part of Regal's November special screenings, so I'm glad that my first viewing was at the theaters. I found the movie to be, overall, a solid watch

I'll actually begin with some of the flaws. The movie is a family-friendly Christmas movie, so there are a few moments that are a bit corny for adults. I found the presentation of the North Pole and the elves (the real Elves, not Will Farrell's character) to be cringy for being so kiddy and juvenile. Though again, this complaint is probably the result of my adult eyes; I'm sure kids probably liked that part. The plot basically goes the way you would expect, so there isn't much to praise there. You'd see the same plot framework in any late 1990s - early 00's Disney channel made-for-TV flicks

Still, though, I found the movie to be a solid watch, as stated. I really think that Will Ferrell's performance as the lead gives the movie that little extra push. He is so convincing as the fish-out-water man-child Elf in New York. His delivery, facial expressions, and mannerisms are right on the mark. A lot of the jokes are well-done. There were numerous instances where I smiled or chuckled . I like the supporting cast too, such as Scott Caan, Zoey Deschanel, and Peter Dinklage (the latter delivers what might be the best scene in the movie infact). Though the movie ends basically the way that you expect, the movie still conveys a warm and fuzzy Christmas vibe that helps make up for the predictability

7.0/10.

I just finished watching the movie on 11/28/2025. I think it's just OK

The movie has a lot to offer. I love the wintry, holiday setting as well as the music/soundtrack. The general vibe in this movie is thoughtful, nostalgic, and just real. Several moments are so well-filmed that they hit the mark emotionally. There's good dialogue and acting, especially by Paul Giamatti. The movie never gets corny. I applaud the film's message about loneliness and the need for any sort of human connection, however awkward or unusual the connection may seem

I still won't go beyond a 6.5/10 for various reasons. My #1 complaint is that the movie runs far too long, at 133 minutes. This movie should have been 90 minutes or thereabouts. The movie tends to go in circles a bit; a lot of scenes appear pointless or needless upon reflection.

There's also a bit of predictability and familiarity. The movie seems to echo, at times, many other works like Dead Poets Society and Scent of a Woman. The conclusion comes as no surprise (they hate each other at first, but they'll become friends who learn from each other ... we've all seen it before)

Lastly - I guess I kinda liked Paul Giamatti's character because of his quirkiness and humor, but I really found the Angus character to be so unlikable. Though Da'Vine Joy Randolph won an Oscar for her role, I found her performance just OK; I didn't feel she was Oscar-worthy here

6.5/10.