Elf Unwrapped:
Behind the Scenes of a Modern Christmas Classic
by Andy Richter with Aaron Karo
DETAILS:
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Publication Date: November 3, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 224 pg.
Read Date: October 21-22, 2026
What’s Elf Unwrapped About?
This is an oral history of the movie Elf from its initial idea through several studios, a couple of stars attached, several rewrites, and finally into the hands of an untested director and an equally untested lead (for movies, anyway).
The book is a straightforward recounting of the making of the film—with parts of interviews, anecdotes, and jokes along the way.
The Tone of the Book
The book reads like you’d expect a book from Andy Richter to read—it’s happy, it’s jokey, it’s upbeat. Plus, from time to time, it gets really earnest and heartfelt (the closing, in particular).
That tone is matched by the quotations selected from everyone involved in the making of the movie. Obviously, no one knows what didn’t make it into the book—but you walk away with the impression that everyone involved loved the process and the final product.
So, what did I think about Elf Unwrapped?
One thing that comes through loud and clear—is that the authors are fans of the movie, of everyone involved, particularly the way that the impulses and tendencies of Ferrell and Favreau balanced each other out and made the film what it is. Their enthusiasm for the movie connects with the reader’s and carries you through this book. If the reader doesn’t have a decent level of enthusiasm for the movie, they wouldn’t be reading a book about it.
There is just so much trivia about the movie in these pages that I know my family is already making plans to skip our annual viewing of the movie just to avoid me pausing it every now and then to share something I’ve learned. Which is completely understandable—Richter and Karo have given me so much to be annoying with. For the trivia alone, the book is worth picking up.
But it’s about more than that—it’s about a celebration of a piece of filmmaking, how it makes the audience feel, and what the cast felt like during the process. A celebration of individual performances and the fun had off-screen.
I’m not sure what else to say—it’s what you want in a book like this. If you’re a fan of the movie—you’re going to want to read this. If you’re not…skip it. Although you probably don’t need me to tell you that.
It’s a book I think I’ll come back to just to verify my memory about a point—and then get sucked into and will read at least a chapter or two after that. Much the same way that when you’re flipping through selections and find Elf on TV, you’ll likely end up watching a lot of it (if not the rest of the movie). Assuming you still flip through channels.
You’re in for a real treat if you give this a chance.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Dey Street Books via NetGalley—my thanks to both for this. This post contains my honest opinion about a book I chose to read.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
