Will Ferrell ensures that hilarity ensues over the holidays with Elf. The former Saturday Night Live star portrays Buddy, a human who was adopted and raised by Santas elves. As Buddy gets older, he outgrows his surroundings both literally and figuratively and decides to leave the candy-coated life of the North Pole behind to find his real family. He heads to New York, where, no surprise, things are not as sweet. He finds his real father is a modern-day Scrooge and his brother gasp! doesnt believe in Santa. Sure, it sounds like the set-up to another eye-roll-inducing lesson on the real meaning of Christmas, but with Ferrell on the job, you can bet that every tender moment is met with a dose of zany. 11:55 p.m. Friday and Saturday. River Oaks Theatre, 2009 West Gray. For information, call 713-866-8881 or visit www.landmarktheatre.com. $6.50 to $9.50.
Fri., Dec. 19, 11:55 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 20, 11:55 p.m., 2008