'Elf' actualized
When the Will Ferrell comedy "Elf" opened in 2003, director Jon Favreau had ambitions of creating a holiday classic that would stand the test of time, even borrowing low-tech visuals from TV's stop-motion perennials like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The movie became a hit beyond anyone's expectations, grossing more than $200 million worldwide. It now has spawned a musical version making its Chicago debut this we…