Elf is genuinely good. Not just Saturday Night Live-movie good; when the movie has some funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity; Elf is a smartly written; skillfully directed; and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who returns to the human world to find his father. And because the writing; directing; and acting are all genuinely good; Elf is also genuinely funny. Will Ferrell; as Buddy the adopted elf; is hysterically sincere. James Caan; as his rediscovered father; executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel; as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love; is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that's sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly; Elf feels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen; Bob Newhart; Peter Dinklage; and Ed Asner as Santa Claus. --Bret Fetzer