Will Ferrell revealed that the late James Caan would “tease” him by telling him he wasn’t funny while filming the iconic holiday comedy “Elf.”
Ferrell — in a recent appearance on the “MeSsy” podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler — spoke of his concerns over whether “Elf” would “be disastrous” before recalling his time on set with Caan, who died in 2022.
“I like to do bits, but at the same time, I’m not like ‘on’ all the time. … In between setups, he’d be like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny. You’re not funny,’” said Ferrell, who noted that Caan’s jabs were “with love.”
“And I’m like, ‘I know, I’m not Robin Williams, I’m not like —,’ he’s like, ‘People ask me, like, is he funny?’ I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny.’”
The “Saturday Night Live” alum later recalled walking out of the theater following the premiere of “Elf” when his co-star gave him “the best compliment.”
’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,’” said Ferrell, who played Buddy in the classic holiday movie.
He continued, “But I love that the whole time, like he’s not acting. He’s truly annoyed with me. He’s like, ‘Can this guy shut the fuck up? Jesus.’ So I literally drove him crazy in that movie, just acting like that kid. But that was so funny, he’s walking out, shaking his head and going like ‘great job, I thought you were way too over the top. But no it’s brilliant, it’s brilliant.’”
“Elf” director Jon Favreau, in a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, revealed that Ferrell returned jabs at Caan on set, as well.
“Will gave him, as a wrap gift — he wrote a note that said, ‘Great working with you. The first one is a little bit slow, but the second two are really good.’ And it was ‘The Godfather’ trilogy,” Favreau recalled.
Ferrell told the “MeSsy” podcast that it was “scripted a little more” that Caan would get more frustrated and “lose his temper” on him in the film.
“And he didn’t want to do any of that,” Ferrell said.
“He wanted to save it till that moment in the boardroom where he kicks me out and kicks me out of his life. ‘No, it’s gotta be a slow build,’ and he was totally right.”