Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Will power: The buzz on ‘Elf keeps its star busy Ferrell says reports of his hyper schedule are a bit exaggerated. “As soon as I maybe agree to help develop someone’s script, the next day Variety re ports 'Ferrell is signed on to do such-and such,”’ he says. “It’s 50-50 whether some of those things will happen.” Specifically, he says, “The Woody Allen is for sure. I’m doing that right now. Then there’s the Ed Harris one and the Duvall one — OK, I’m disproving my whole point here, aren’t I? Most of those are legit, but 'Confederacy’ may or may not happen. Same with 'Bewitched.’ And a few of the other ones, like 'Starsky and Hutch,’ are just one- or two-aay parts. Although Ferrell is known for slipping into hideous power suits to impersonate Janet Reno on “Saturday Night Live” and running buck-naked through a town square in “Old School,” he comes off as serious, quiet and normal on the phone — so nor mal that, unlike virtually every other tardy actor I’ve interviewed on the phone, he calls me himself, rather than letting a publicist or assistant’s fingers do the walking, and he does it at 10 a.m. on the dot, exactly when the interview was scheduled. “Oh, yeah, I’m a freak about that,” Ferrell says. “I like to be right on the money in terms of punctuality. You know what, though? I’m going to change that. Someone just rang my door. Hang on a second.” In the background, Ferrell can be heard ♦ FERRELL, SEE PAGE 11 PHOTO BY COURTESY KRT CAMPUS Will Ferrell stars in “Elf,” in theaters this holiday season. BY CHRIS HEWITT KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS (KRT) If you believe press releases, virtually every movie coming out in the next year has two things in common: All of them will be fantastic, and all will star Will Ferrell. There’s “Elf,” the holiday comedy that opens Friday. “Bewitched” with Nicole Kidman. Ferrell’s first dramatic role in “Winter Passing” with Ed Harris. The next Woody Allen comedy. The oft-delayed film version of “A Confederacy of Dunces” with Drew Barrymore. A comedy about soccer with Robert Duvall. “Starsky and Hutch: The Movie” with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The animated “Curious George” movie, wiiere lie s uie voice 01 ueorge s Hu man pal. “The Wendell Baker Story,” a com edy with Luke and Owen Wilson (again). It’s exhausting to read that list, and Ferrell acknowledges it’s a little exhaust ing to act in it, too. “I grew up watching my father in the mu sic business, seeing him having a nightclub gig that could last a month or a year, with no rhyme or reason, and then nothing,” Ferrell says. “I have no illusions about the fact that it would be fun to have a long ca reer, but we could be talking next year and I’ll be driving a UPS truck. Which is not a slam against that. Nothing wrong with the UPS.” He'd better not be talking smack about parcel services, since they’re practically lined up at his door to drop off scripts, all because the buzz on “Elf’ is so strong. Still, HOLIDAY MUST HAVES! • Half-Moon Frlsbees $9.99 » Nolgene Water Bottles $10.99 • Patagonia Fleece "Marsupial" $75.00 • Headlamps $19.95*69.95 • Stoves $26.95*99.95 • Camelbak Hydration Packs $26.95*79.95 • Half'Moon Tee Shirts $15.00*20.00 • Swiss Army Knives $15.00*30.00 • L€.D. Keychains $9.95 • The North face Denali ikts $ 165.00 • Sleeping flags $49.95*199.95 • Sierra Designs "Gamma" 2 Mon Tent $99.99 • TNF U/indstopper Gloves $50.00 • Freestyle Ulatches $35.00*75.00 • TNF "Base Camp" Duffles $99.99*119.00 • Islander Hula Sit-On-Top Kayak $299.00 803.929.0771 2930 DEVINE STREET HOURS-. MONDAY SATURDAY 10AM 7PM SUNDAY 12PM 6PM