CHRISTMAS paired with comedy can sometimes create something hilarious.

Think the genius of Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa. Or in many cases, the physical comedy of man-child Will Ferrell in one of the best films directed by Jon Favreau.

Ferrell is certainly a ‘marmite’ actor – people either love or hate his brand of humour. For me, Elf is one of the many highlights in his career to date, but it’s understandable how it can wear thin for some.

It has everything you could wish for from a festive movie – belly laughs, family ‘drama’ and Zooey Deschanel (swoon!) It’s feelgood to the point you’d be mistaken for a grinning idiot long after the credits have rolled.

Elf, Jon Favreau, 2003 USA

Buddy the Elf (Ferrell) isn’t your average elf. He’s different. Rather than being short and cute, he’s tall, ungainly and completely un-elf like. But he’s deluded enough to think he is one given he was brought up by them.

After being told he shouldn’t be living in the North Pole, he sets off for New York city in search of his real father and it isn’t long before all hell breaks loose.

The look of childlike wonderment as he explores is brilliant but he shows his real knack for comedy when interacting with staff at the toy store he finds work in – the back and forth between Buddy and the store manager – played by Faizon Love.

It turns out his father, Walter (James Caan) is a publisher of children’s books who is more concerned with making money than the true meaning of Christmas.

Ferrell’s character is so childlike that he even claims “smiling is my favourite” when he’s asked why he’s constantly got a smile on his face.

Most of the biggest laughs come from Buddy and his inability to take on board that he isn’t really an elf. His reaction to the news that ‘Santa’ is coming to Gimbels elicits major laughs, as does an elongated burp, his attempt to place a star on top of a Christmas tree and his boundary-less ‘duet’ with Jovie (Deschanel) as she sings in the store changing room shower.

It’s hard not to list what works as comedy in Elf, and while some of the more physical stuff will generate laughs from kids, it’s the human contact that does it for me – especially when he claps eyes on Miles Finch (Peter Dinklage) during an executive meeting at the toy store.

He can’t fathom that Finch isn’t an elf, continuing to offend him with questions Buddy thinks are innocent.

Things definitely take a turn for the more serious when Walter refuses to admit Buddy is really his son. Through all the comedy, there’s a thread of looking for acceptance in strange new world.

And when Buddy’s interference in Walter’s life leads to issues at work, it forces his father to re-evaluate his life and what’s really important.

As you’d expect, Ferrell steals the show, but he’s ably supported by everyone around him. Deschanel is great as his love interest while Caan shows he can perform admirably as a Scrooge-like character.

As you’d expect with a family Christmas movie, everything ends happily and sugar-sweet, but it doesn’t detract from the hilarity brought on before it climaxes.

Elf is definitely one for all the family, so if you haven’t seen it, sort it out. If you have? Watch it again. It’ll put a smile on your face.