Will Ferrell recently shared that his late co-star, James Caan, wasn’t acting when he appeared frustrated with him on the set of “Elf.” According to Ferrell, Caan was genuinely annoyed by his over-the-top performance as Buddy the Elf.
In an episode of the MeSsy podcast, hosted by Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Ferrell disclosed that Caan, who portrayed his biological father Walter Hobbs in the film, didn’t initially appreciate his comedic style. Ferrell recounted Caan’s candid reactions during filming: “James Caan, may he rest in peace, we had such a good time working on that movie. He would tease me. I like to do bits, but I’m not ‘on’ all the time. In between setups, [Caan] would be like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny.’ And I’m like, ‘I know. I’m not Robin Williams.’ And he was like, ‘People ask me: “Is he funny?” And I’m like, “No, he’s not funny.”‘ It was all with love but at the same time…”
Ferrell explained that Caan’s outward irritation in scenes where Hobbs faces Buddy’s exuberant antics was genuine. Only after watching the completed film did Caan realize the comedic brilliance of Ferrell’s performance. “He was like, ‘I’ve got to tell you: I thought everything you were doing while we were filming was way too over the top. Now that I see it in the movie, it’s brilliant,'” Ferrell shared. “But I love that the whole time, he’s not acting. He’s truly annoyed with me. He’s like, ‘Can this guy shut the f**k up? Jesus.’ I literally drove him crazy in that movie, just acting like that kid. But that was the funniest thing, him walking out of the theater and shaking his head and going, ‘It’s brilliant.'”
“Elf,” which earned over $220 million worldwide, has become a modern Christmas classic. Despite its success, Ferrell turned down a $29 million offer to star in a sequel. He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021, “I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money.’ And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.'”
Whether or not there’s a sequel, “Elf” remains a beloved holiday favorite and continues to feature prominently on must-watch lists for the festive season.
