Remember back in 2019 when the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” was quite controversial? Multiple musicians released new versions of the song in which they changed a some of the classic lyrics to be less controversial.

Long before there was ever a controversy about “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” it was a magical song in the movie “Elf.” Back in 2010, nobody was concerned about the lyrics when they watched Jovie, played by Zooey Deschanel, sing in the shower while Elf, played by Will Ferrell, sang along while falling in love with her voice.

It was a magical moment in the movie, and according to Deschanel, it wasn’t part of the original script. When she auditioned for the role of Jovie, the movie’s director, Jon Favreau, told her that they were planning to tailor the role of Jovie to the actress that got the part. Whatever special talent the actress had, that would be featured in the film as a unique skill that Elf would discover and love.

Deschanel told Entertainment Weekly, “One actress they were looking at was good at skateboarding. But I had a cabaret act at the time, and I was performing a lot. They knew that I was a singer, so they put that in to be my special thing that he could discover I was good at.”

It’s hard to imagine a skateboarding Jovie. We’re definitely glad that Deschanel got the part and that her vocal talent was featured in the film. It certainly ties the entire movie together since “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

If you have ever wished that the cast of “Elf” would get together for a reunion, we have good news. They actually did, and it was magical. The cast did a script read through of the entire film from beginning to end with only one major change. They weren’t able to get the rights to use the song, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” so at the end of the movie they sang “Jingle Bells” instead.

The entire performance was a virtual one because 2020, but that didn’t take away from the magic at all. Maybe it even added to it.

One of the best parts of the reunion was the recreation of Deschanel and Ferrell’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside” duet. Not only did it sound pretty much just like the original, Deschanel even recreated the shocked expression she had in the film when she realized someone was listening to her sing.

Deschanel shared the magical recreation of the famous duet on Instagram. You can watch it below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zooey Deschanel (@zooeydeschanel)

Other cast members that reunited for the film include Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Amy Sedaris and Mary Steenburgen.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie? Can you picture a skateboarding Jovie?