Will Ferrell, former “Saturday Night Live” castmember and star of “Old School” and “A Night atthe Roxbury,” met with a group of college journalists topromote his latest movie, “Elf.” In it, he plays Buddy,an orphan who inadvertently stole away to the North Pole as a babyand was raised by elves. When he grows up to be alarger-than-average elf, he goes on a search for his biologicalfamily and tries to bring back the spirit of Christmas to acommunity of people who are on Santa’s naughty list.

Q: Do you see yourself working on more serious films in thefuture?

A: I’m kind of getting to do a little bit more. I’llalways like doing comedy, and that’s probably what I’llpredominately do, I would think, but I’m doing the WoodyAllen movie; it’s not serious but it’s real in tone.I’m doing another movie with Zooey (Deschanel) called”The Winter Passing” with Ed Harris, and that’skinda going be a low budget independent film which is completelytraumatic. We’ll see if you guys see it and say: “getback to comedy,” or if people like it.

Q: Is it harder to make a kids movie funny rather thaninappropriate?

A: It’s definitely a challenge to fit everything within aPG movie where both kids and adults will find it funny. That iswhat’s kind of weird in a way because it’s whatattracted both myself and Director Jon Favreau to do this film.

We wanted to see if we could pull this off. It’s kindanice to have these boundaries in a way and I think people aresurprised that it’ll be good, they have such a good time, andlaugh at a film like this, and no one said any bad words really. Ithink it takes them by surprise.

Q: What comedians have influenced you?

A: I grew up watching “SNL.” It was a big influence.People like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Chaka Khan. Even thoughshe’s not a comedian, she’s been a big influence.

Q: How was the kiss with Zooey Deschanel?

A: Yes, it was good; I was nervous. It kinda had to be such asincere moment in a way that it was hard to do. I’m usuallymaking fun of moments like that, so I welcomed the challenge. Ifyou had to kiss someone, she’s not that bad.

Q:What is your favorite Christmas special?

A: I love Jinxi the Christmas Salamander. It was only on once,and immediately taken off the air for vulgarity.

I was heartbroken when I missed the original Rudolph. Rudolphpretty much, that’s the one.