Could remember only ASNER and ZOOEY DESCHANEL as Ferrell co-stars in 'Elf'.Wanted THE KEYS instead of CAR KEYS for some reason ( 35A: Request to Dad, perhaps).Had the 'B' at the end of 7D: Baby animal in a parable in II Samuel and wrote in BEAR CUB.Wanted MU SHU at 2D: Kind of pork, but saw the number of squares and wrote in MOO.Shoulda been able to get GARTH from just the 'G' shoulda been able to get PEPITA from the 'PE-'. I didn't trust it At All, but after stumbling with PHOTON instead of PHASER at 43D: Particle beam weapon, I could see it was all going to work out. Now I know squat about opera, and I know zero about ATTILA, but something about the clue jogged the answer loose. Then I tried ATTILA (42D: Verdi opera set in the fifth century). And then at the end, in the SE corner, I just had blank space below SPINAL TAP, and got a little panicky. I got a superfast start by guessing AMMO right out of the box ( 1A: They may make the rounds) and then confirming it with (drum roll) ARNESS! (crosswordese the first) ( 1D: 'Gunsmoke' actor James). I don't know if the puzzle was easier or harder or exactly as hard as I rated it because I was aided somewhat in the NW, and mightily in the SE, by that niche knowledge I have only because I solve a ton of crosswords, i.e.

the idea of someone (I assume drunkenly) twirling in SWEAT PANTS while asking ' HOW DO I LOOK?' I finished in just over 6. The long Acrosses don't really sing, though I do like the juxtaposition in the north, i.e.

Expected something a little showier here, but all in all it's decent and clean.

Verdi opera set in the 5th century