Elf

I know there’s no accounting for taste – which partially explains Will Ferrell’s career longevity – but there’s no arguing his ability to fully commit to the character he’s playing, no matter how absurd. Is there anyone else who could bring the same level of positivity and enthusiasm to the role of a human adopted by Santa’s helpers? “Elf” (2003) is entirely dependent on willing suspension of disbelief, and Ferrell is so invested in his Buddy the elf, there are a lot of otherwise cynical people who rank it as one of their favorite Christmas films. And that’s the point of Christmas.

The Butcher’s Wife

“The Butcher’s Wife” is a 1991 movie starring several women I fancy (Demi Moore, Mary Steenburgen, Frances McDormand, Margaret Colin), and Jeff Daniels, who a lot of women favor, at least when they’re not getting him confused with Bill Pullman. George Dzundza is in it, too (I just wanted to say Dzundza). It’s a chick flick (crossed signals, unrequited love, happy ending, blah blah blah). A barefoot Demi Moore is supposed to be a clairvoyant from North Carolina, spouting cornpone wisdom in a terrible accent. It mostly takes place in New York (the movie, not her accent). Dzundza, Dzundza, Dzundza.

Step Brothers

In 2008, when “Step Brothers” was released, Will Ferrell was 41 and Mary Steenburgen was 55. In the film, she plays his mom. I bet that hurt when her agent called. I bet it also hurt when she read the script and counted how many F-bombs she would be dropping for the sake of a cheap laugh. What was that Mary? You won an Oscar? That’s cool, but were you ever a “mystery slimed celebrity” at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards? This plotless movie is a loosely strung sequence of admittedly funny gags, but Ferrell’s shock-and-awe comedy style grows old.