The divergent marketing concerns of many a modern Hollywood film have increasingly led to the issuing of individual song-scores and traditional orchestral soundtracks for the same film, releases that sometimes seem completely at artistic cross-purposes. John Debney's effervescent score for Jon Favreau's loopy Christmas fantasy is a happy exception. Perfectly complementing a song-score that leans on Favreau's decidedly hipster retro-lounge affections, Debney has concocted playful orchestral cues that careen with the same buoyant sense of innocent abandon as Will Ferrell's star-crossed title character.
The composer's swinging "Christmas Medley" here wouldn't seem at all out of place on its song-score companion piece, while his musical portrayal of the Elves and their magic holiday world is dominated by a whistling chorus that's just ever so-slightly off. It's instrumental holiday music fueled by a refreshing sense of fun - and a little contemporary, ironic sass. --Jerry McCulley
I love when Zooey Deschanel sings Santa Claus is Coming to Town in the end of the movie. It is such a heartwarming moment when everyone joins in and contributes to the spirit of Christmas.