One Christmas Eve, a long time ago, a small baby at an orphanage crawled into Santa's bag of toys, only to go undetected and accidentally carried back to Santa's workshop in the North Pole.

Though he was quickly taken under the wing of a surrogate father and raised to be an elf, as he grows to be three sizes larger than everyone else, it becomes clear that Buddy (Will Ferrell) will never truly fit into the elf world.

What he needs is to find his real family. So Buddy decides to find his true place in the world and sets off for New York City to track down his roots.

Although Buddy experiences a world he never knew existed, he quickly learns that life in the big city is not all ice skating and sugarplums, and he finds himself as much an outsider there as back in the North Pole.

Buddy seeks out his real father, Walter (James Caan), a workaholic publisher of children's books with a place on Santa's "naughty" list.

Walter doesn't believe Buddy is who or what he says he is; in fact, the only thing Walter believes in with any certainty is the bottom line. Buddy also discovers a new mum (Mary Steenburgen), and learns he has a ten-year-old half-brother (Daniel Tay) who doesn't believe in Christmas or elves or Santa. In fact, everyone seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Buddy takes it upon himself and his earnest elf ways to win over his family, realise his destiny and, ultimately, save Christmas for New York and the world.

Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the elf in the family comedy Elf. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film features a stellar supporting cast that includes James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, with Edward Asner (as Santa Claus) and Bob Newhart (as Papa Elf).

Buddy is both daunted and enraptured by the cacophony of sights and sounds of the big city. More than just a fish out of water in his green elf suit, Buddy is intellectually and emotionally unprepared for humanity. He is a child by popular standards, nave and socially inept, yet his charm is infectious.

Edward Asner, who plays Santa Claus, describes Buddy as "pure as the driven snow. He's a saintly creature. He has a heart as big as a pumpkin and seeks to do nothing but good. But he's clumsy in executing that goodness. He's a loveable oaf."

Will Ferrell, who created numerous memorable characters during his seven seasons as a cast member on the TV series Saturday Night Live, and who co-starred earlier this year in the comedy hit Old School, describes Buddy as having "no judgment of anything or anyone. He just accepts."

Says the actor: "Buddy is a good example of how ignorance is bliss. So, how others react to him is as much a comment on them as it is on Buddy. Some feel sorry for him, most find him annoying, but others just enjoy his total acceptance and wonder in something that seems so mundane, such as riding on an escalator for the first time. He's a person who finds joy and interest in the smallest of things."

Buddy locates his father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), at a mighty book publishing company in the Empire State Building. Walter is a bit of a tyrant who's obsessed with profits as well as a bit of a slacker when it comes to quality control.

Walter's first response to Buddy is to rush for DNA testing; then, even after the test proves Buddy's claims, Walter still rejects his son, partly because Walter barely has time for the family he already knows and partly because he finds Buddy's perceived mental instability embarrassing.

James Caan notes that Walter is not intentionally mean. "This guy is just involved in himself and his work," comments the actor.

"He has no clue about anything else because the way he sees it, everything is about him."

Forging beyond the stereotype of the eternally good-natured senior citizen in a red suit, Edward Asner's Santa is "a man who can be short tempered, who can be impatient," says the actor, "who has normal, frail, human qualities along with innate goodness. And he's funny. I love that he has those rounded qualities."

"I think it's important for us, in this day and age, to believe in something good and pure," comments Asner.

"It's nice to have something that gives us hope, that gives us simplicity. I think Elf will be a wonderful contribution to the belief in simplicity and goodness. It will be lovely for kids to watch, both humorous and encouraging. And in these dark days of the world, a sweet, gentle message about giving and love is something we need desperately."