For Elf Jon Favreau went with an all-star cast consisting of Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage and James Caan. These actors fulfill their roles perfectly and create humorous memories that will last a lifetime. In 2003, every time Elf was released, Will Ferrell was coming off his superb run on Saturday Night Live and, along with the great success of Zoolander, would make Ferrell the ideal candidate. However, Ferrell's role wouldn't have been complete without his other stars. Zooey Deschanel would play the role of Jovie perfectly, Peter Dinklage that of Miles Finch and James Caan that of Buddy's father. Their tough New York personalities would often come into conflict with the cheerful and ecstatic Buddy the Elf, but would be subject to change throughout the film. The great actors and directors who made this film are just one of the many factors that made Elf so successful.