Elf Producers Wanted to Cut One of the Funniest (And Weirdest) Lines From the Movie

As a die-hard fan of Will Ferrell’s comedies, especially the timeless classic Elf, I can’t help but feel a deep appreciation for the unsung heroes who bring those memorable moments to life. Mark Acheson, the gruff mailroom worker who shared his flask with Buddy the Elf, is one such hero. His story of nearly being cut from the movie and his epic 22-hour set experience is nothing short of legendary.

In the early-2000s comedies of Will Ferrell, unexpected jokes and understated one-liners were a hallmark. However, one of the funniest instances from the movie “Elf” almost didn’t make it to the screen. Actor Mark Acheson, who played the gruff mailroom worker that befriends Buddy the elf in the film, shared his experience during an interview with The Daily Mail last year to celebrate the movie’s 20th anniversary. He disclosed that his entire role was almost omitted from the final cut.

In the movie “Elf,” around the hour mark, Buddy’s father (James Caan) sends him to the mailroom to keep him busy. There, Buddy works alongside an unnamed character played by Acheson. Acheson, being generous, shares his flask with an unsuspecting Buddy. Although Acheson only appears on screen for a few minutes, he was actually on set for about 22 hours. He mentioned that director Jon Favreau initially asked him to say just one line, but his improvisations and spontaneous dialogue with Farrell took over the film set for an entire day.

Acheson felt fortunate to have a role in the movie at all, as he learned that the producers initially intended to exclude him entirely but Favreau advocated for him. Particularly, he took pride in an improvised line where he humorously commented on his character’s age by saying: “I’m 26 years old and I got nothing to show for it!” In his interview, he shared the producers’ amused response to that quip.

[RELATED: The Real Reason There’s Never Been an Elf Movie Sequel]

Acheson remembered saying, “People will never believe this man is only 26 years old!” Favreau responded, “That’s the humor in it!” Acheson was actually 46 at the time he delivered that line. He also mentioned that the scene was largely improvised and involved his character, who was drunk, and Buddy, lying on their backs amidst piles of mail. The crew had written a few suggestions on the ceiling for guidance, but they essentially told them to “have fun.

At first, Acheson was summoned for a brief, pre-written humorous quip. When Buddy stepped into the mailroom, he shared with his new companion that he had traveled from the North Pole and inquired: “So how did you arrive here?” To this, Acheson retorted: “Work release.” Later, Acheson clarified that the scene was expanded as Favreau, Farrell, and others aimed to squeeze every possible moment out of their last day on set.

He acknowledged it was quite challenging,” he said, “but working alongside one of the funniest individuals in movies and TV, sharing jokes. It was surprisingly effortless – one of my simplest shifts yet. Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau were incredibly gracious to me, allowing me to tag along.

What Did Acheson’s Part Get Cut?

It’s clear that much of Acheson’s footage was eliminated to condense a full day of filming into just a few minutes. Interestingly, the actor disclosed that they filmed an extended dance sequence with Farrell, but he has yet to see it – not even in bonus features or making-of videos.

In my perspective, what really left me scratching my head during our recent conversation was when Favreau mentioned something intriguing – and I must admit, it’s got me curious. He suggested an ending scene where Will Ferrell would suddenly burst a water main on me, drenching me while I perform a sort of Flashdance-inspired move. To top it off, I was supposed to belt out a Christmas carol as loud as humanly possible amidst the torrent of water. Now, I’m just wondering if I could pull that off, Favreau!

“Yes, I’m perfect with that idea!” However, instead of praising him, they soaked him like a wet rat! At the end of the day, he found himself completely drenched and couldn’t believe the ordeal he had experienced. To this day, Acheson is bewildered as to why this scene hasn’t been released anywhere. He mentioned that there are no outtakes or any additional footage from that two-hour setup, which left him astonished because he thought something so lengthy would be included in the outtakes but it wasn’t.

Acheson and Elf

Before starring in “Elf,” Acheson had a prosperous career with numerous notable roles afterward. Yet, he considers the Christmas film as one of his greatest professional achievements. He attributes it to opening up many job opportunities for him since then, dubbing it as “free publicity for my career.” Furthermore, in jest, he referred to the movie as “my pension plan,” implying that it provides him with steady and dependable residual income.

Acheson differs from most Elf fans in that he doesn’t make it a yearly tradition to watch the film every December. This isn’t surprising as he jokes, “I do watch it occasionally but not every Christmas like others seem obligated to!” Interestingly, he did recently revisit the movie before this interview and admitted, “Upon rewatching, I found it to be a skillfully made film. It was well-executed indeed.

Elf is streaming now on Hulu and Max.

2024-12-15 02:09

What Did Acheson’s Part Get Cut?

Acheson and Elf

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