After hitting the jackpot as gun-toting gangster Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, James Caan went on to shoot a string of misfires. Aside from cult hit Rollerball, Caan next captured the world's attention in the bone-chilling (or should that be, bone-crunching?) Misery. Now he's going for a dose of Christmas cheer in festive comedy Elf.

Is it true you had initially turned this script down?

I didn't turn the script down. It was the title. It didn't sound... right. From The Godfather to Elf? My agents told me: "We're sending you a script called Elf", and I said: "No you're not!"

So what persuaded you to do it?

When I did read the script, it was very funny, and to be with Will and the whole crew was a blast. It was surprising for a picture called Elf. It was actually edgy. I think the nice thing about the film is that my mother laughed, my kids laughed, my friends laughed, and usually when they call something a family movie, I think, "uh-oh! I'll have to suffer through it."

Will Ferrell's character is an innocent in a cynical world, so isn't Elf about the beauty of innocence in a way?

It is that, but really, it's about how we don't recognise the little things in life, or appreciate the little things in life like belonging. A sense of belonging is a big thing today. I think we have to believe in things we don't see. That's really important for all of us, whether it's your religion or Santa Claus, or whatever. That's pretty much what it's about.

How about working with Will? Could you keep a straight face?

Will is extremely funny. The tights, though, they were a little vulgar. I just looked at the tights and there's nothing funny about them!