This Fan-Favorite Elf Quote Almost Didn't Make It Into the Film

As a devoted fan of Christmas movies, I must say that Elf, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell, has become one of my all-time favorite holiday films. The story of Buddy the elf, who sets out to find his real father in New York City, is a heartwarming tale that perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by improvising a quote people will remember for decades.

What Will Ferrell and Mark Acheson, who is known for his role as Mailroom Guy in a beloved holiday movie, Elf (2003), actually did was improvise during filming. Interestingly, Mark confessed that one of his most memorable lines nearly got cut out during post-production.

In a recent interview with People on December 20th, Mark shared that his agent contacted him saying, “They want you to share a line with Will Ferrell. Would you be interested?” To which he responded positively, “Absolutely, I’d be delighted!” As it turned out, all he needed to say was “work release,” and that concluded the scene.

On an unusually peculiar day on set, as I recall, director Jon Favreau of “Elf” fame asked Mark and me to ad-lib for a scene where my character, Buddy the Elf, mistakes coffee and syrup for alcohol, resulting in our profound conversation about life’s purpose in the mailroom.

In a candid moment, Mark’s character admits, “I’ve found my rhythm, that’s what led me here.” He then reveals, “At 26 years old, I have nothing to show for it.

However, Buddy reminds him, “You’re quite young indeed, not even close to the age at which my grandfather became Master Tinker, which was 490.” or

Initially, the scene where the joke about his age was made was nearly removed from the film, but it has since become a beloved moment among its viewers.

Mark, aged 67, shared his thoughts on why the scene was cut: “The producers found it hard to accept this character being 26, given how I appeared.” He added, “I couldn’t help but think, ‘How could they believe this man is actually 26?’ Honestly, I felt older than that even at 46 – yes, I was really that age – and I had always looked older still.

But Jon fought for the scene to remain, noting that’s what makes the joke work.

Mark remembered that while others may not have wanted him, the one person who did proved crucial. He accepted me, and I am grateful because it significantly impacted my professional path.

For more than two decades, Mark’s humorous comment about his age – being 26 – has persisted in the memories of fans, even though he has been featured in countless movies and TV shows such as The X-Files, Supernatural, and Fargo throughout his career.

Each year that passes, I find myself finding this movie increasingly absurd, considering the main character is meant to be just 26 years old. (This comment was posted on TikTok alongside a clip from the scene.)

One user responded in the comments, “I watched it this year and gasped when he said 26.”

Another added, “Idk this is how I feel at 27.”

One person had a different take, noting, “I think it’s like a child’s perspective because when we were little we thought someone 26 looked old.”

But as one TikToker noted, “That’s the joke, I fear.”

Curious about more behind the scenes secrets from Elf? Keep reading.

The initial script for Elf was actually penned in 1993, with Jim Carrey specifically considered for the role of Santa’s helper. However, due to a delay of more than ten years before the film’s production, Carrey didn’t get to play the part. Instead, that opportunity became an unforgettable Christmas present for Will Ferrell.

2. Initially, the character Elf was planned to be slightly more malicious, as director Jon Favreau shared with Rolling Stone, stating, “He had a darker side to him.

3. At first, I declined the offer when they asked me to revise the script and change the movie into a family-friendly PG version, but eventually…

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I peered over the script and found it didn’t exactly grab my attention. To be honest, it was a considerably darker take on the film compared to what I had envisioned. The idea of collaborating with Will for his first solo project following his time at SNL was enticing, but unfortunately, it fell short of the mark for me.

4. Buddy’s distinctive outfit was inspired by the elves featured in the 1964 Rankin/Bass animated special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.

According to Favreau, the costume played a crucial role. It made the character appear as if he was a puppet, complete with the tights, boots, and hat. Wearing such a courageous outfit was no small feat for him.

5. Costume designer Laura Jean Shannon, responsible for selecting the ideal outfit, disclosed that it wasn’t making costumes to fit Will Ferrell’s towering 6-foot-3 stature that proved most challenging in her work.

She clarified to Feel Christmassy that it wasn’t so much about finding suitable clothes for Will due to his size, but rather ensuring that whatever we chose wouldn’t appear off-putting or inappropriate. Given that we were dressing an adult man in tights and a cutaway coat, we needed numerous fittings to strike the perfect balance between amusing and endearing.

6. The enchanting Buddy costume worn by Ferrell during filming in New York City led to a couple of road accidents, as the actor’s charm momentarily disrupted traffic flow.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “When Will was traversing the Lincoln Tunnel or the 59th Street Bridge, these thoroughfares were always bustling. You see, whenever he stepped out in his suit, the road would suddenly become a scene of screeching brakes and minor collisions, all because people couldn’t help but gaze at him as he walked along the shoulder.

7. It wasn’t Will Ferrell who famously let out a 12-second burp; instead, it was voice actor Maurice LaMarche, recognized for voicing The Brain in “Pinky and the Brain,” who produced that loud belch at the dinner table. We did catch that sound!

8. The small bits of cotton candy that Buddy kept nibbling on at the doctor’s office were still undyed at the time.

9. During the filming, Ferrell started consuming a sugar-rich diet similar to Buddy’s, as he ended up eating large amounts of maple syrup-covered spaghetti and candies on set.

According to Ferrell, he consumed a large amount of sugar during the filming process and didn’t get much rest. He was always awake, but he’s dedicated – if the role required consuming a lot of maple syrup, then that’s what he did.

10. In the role of Buddy’s resistant father Walter, James Caan (who has since passed away) didn’t need to exert much effort in his acting performance.

During a conversation on their “MeSsy” podcast in July 2024, Ferrell shared that he intentionally made his co-star feel puzzled and annoyed in the movie by saying, “I kept him guessing and left him baffled, much like I’m not as humorous as Robin Williams.

But the dynamic worked, acknowledged Ferrell. “I love that the whole time, he’s not acting,” he continued. “He’s truly annoyed with me. He’s like, ‘Can this guy shut the f–k up?'”

11. Eager to preserve the traditional feel, Favreau shared with Rolling Stone that he aimed to avoid turning the movie into a massive CGI spectacle, instead employing technology sparingly just for adding snow.

He elaborated, “My preference lies with techniques like motion control, model making, and matte paintings. It gives a sense of timelessness. Among these, stop-motion is my preferred method. Working in stop-motion wasn’t easy; I had to put up a strong resistance against using CGI for the task.

12. Despite Ferrell being taller than 5-foot-8 Bob Newhart (better known as Papa Elf), Favreau disclosed that they employed “forced perspective” to create an illusion where it seemed like the Saturday Night Live alum was towering over everyone else at the North Pole.

Constructing two sets, with one being larger than the other, meant “if you examine carefully, you’ll notice where they intersect as we didn’t digitally manipulate or soften that area,” Favreau clarified. “I aimed to retain the imperfections it would have had [before CGI], to give the movie a more classic feel. It resulted in some fantastic memorabilia. I have a four-and-a-half-foot Louisville Slugger bat in my office, which the elves were crafting.

14. I almost witnessed the magical Santa scene at Macy’s, but there was a catch. You see, one condition was that we had to cut the part where Buddy exposed the department store Santa, who was comedian Artie Lange in disguise, as a fake imposter. Director Favreau shared this with Rolling Stone, explaining that their Santa needed to be authentic. It gave us quite a dilemma to ponder over it.

In the end, they filmed inside a cafeteria belonging to a psychiatric hospital in Vancouver. As a tribute to the classic film “Miracle on 34th Street” from 1947, they decided to name their store Gimbels.

14. When they chose Zooey Deschanel to play Buddy’s romantic interest, Jovie, the filmmakers opted to add a touch of warmth through her rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.

In 2020, Deschanel shared with Entertainment Weekly that Jon Favreau mentioned they tailored the role to fit whoever was cast. One actress they considered had skateboarding skills, but Deschanel was heavily involved in cabaret performances at the time. Given her singing background, they decided to highlight that as a unique talent for my character to showcase.

15. Among Buddy’s memorable quotes, such as “You reek of beef and cheese!” and “You occupy a seat of deceit!”, were spontaneously created by Ferrell during filming.

16. The intense battle sequence featuring Ferrell and Lange was shot in a single take due to the fact that it required the art team over a month (or weeks) to adorn Gimbels.

“We had one take to destroy it,” Lange told ABC News, “So Favreau said, ‘Just go nuts!'”

17. Apart from being recognized for his small role as the pediatrician verifying Buddy as Walter’s son, it is less known that Favreau also took on another task: He provided the voice for the Narwhal who famously said goodbye to Buddy with the hope that he would find his father.

18. In 2006, Ferrell declined a rumored $29 million offer to reprise his role as Buddy for a follow-up film, stating to The Guardian that it was effortless to turn down the chance. He reflected, “I asked myself: could I endure the criticism when it’s unfavorable and they say, ‘He made the sequel for the money?'” He then added, “I decided I couldn’t. I didn’t want to venture into a realm that might undo all the good work I’ve accomplished – but you wait, I’ll probably do a poor-quality sequel in the future.

19′. However, Caan claimed it might have been the strained relationship between Ferrell and Favreau that potentially nipped any sequel plans in the bud, leaving me, an ardent fan, eagerly waiting for a resolution to this dilemma.

Originally, I was planning to be part of it, but when I realized it was a franchise film, my thoughts were something like, ‘At last, I have a movie franchise! I can earn some money and give my children more freedom.’ However, the director and Will Smith had a difficult relationship. Will was eager to participate, but the director wasn’t interested. This was a condition in his contract, making it a challenging situation.” (This is paraphrased from the original quote while maintaining its essence and meaning.)

20. Although no sequel was delivered as a Christmas present, fans received a Broadway musical adaptation of the movie in 2010 instead. This production continued until 2013 and later made its way to London’s West End in 2015.

2024-12-26 21:18

This Fan-Favorite Elf Quote Almost Didn’t Make It Into the Film

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