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Movies / On DVD / Fred Claus
Fred Claus

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Fred Claus (2007)

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Reviews Counted:134

Fresh:28

Rotten:106

Average Rating:4.2/10

Consensus: A slew of talent is wasted in this contrived and overly sentimental Christmas film, which can't quite get the balance between slapstick humor and sentimental family moments.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for mild language and some rude humor.

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:30-11-2007

Synopsis: Sibling rivalry takes on a new dimension in director David Dobkin's (WEDDING CRASHERS, CLAY PIGEONS) third collaboration with actor Vince Vaughn, FRED CLAUS. Ever since his younger brother,... Sibling rivalry takes on a new dimension in director David Dobkin's (WEDDING CRASHERS, CLAY PIGEONS) third collaboration with actor Vince Vaughn, FRED CLAUS. Ever since his younger brother, Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), was born, it seems that nothing Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) does is good enough. Nicholas literally becomes a saint and is beloved by millions worldwide, but Fred is just a regular Joe. When Fred finds himself in need of big money in a hurry, little brother Santa is the only one he can turn to. Soon, Fred is working at the North Pole to earn some quick cash and shaking things up with the elves to the delight of efficiency expert Clyde Northcutt (Kevin Spacey), who is on a mission to close down Santa's operation. Can the dueling Claus brothers work together to save Christmas? A sweet lesson is thrown in amongst the sibling rivalry and hijinx: there are really no naughty children at Christmas, just kids who may need a little or love or a second chance. Vaughn plays a character familiar to us now, fast-talking but likable with good intentions. He's at his best when teaching the elves the merits of rock & roll, or talking himself out of sticky situations. Giamatti is endearing as Santa Claus, who compensates for the stress of his job by overeating. Spacey's emotionally frozen Clyde Northcutt harks back to WILLY WONKA's Slugworth as a villain. Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton, and Stephen Baldwin appear in the film's funniest scene as siblings with rivalry issues. Rounding at the cast are Miranda Richardson as Santa's wife, Kathy Bates as Mother Claus, Elizabeth Banks as Santa's assistant, John Michael Higgins as Wiilie the Head Elf, Rachel Weisz as Fred's girlfriend, and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as DJ Donnie. [More]

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Elizabeth Banks

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Kevin Spacey, Trevor Peacock, Ludacris

Director: David Dobkin

Director: David Dobkin
Screenwriter: Dan Fogelman
Story: Jessie Nelson, Dan Fogelman
Producer: Joel Silver, Jessie Nelson, David Dobkin
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Reviews for Fred Claus

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41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Ho-ho-ho-hum...here's the annual average holiday "family" film.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
11/13/07
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

A true Christmas classic to take the whole family to and enjoy. Put up your tree in anticipation of this film and get in the spirit, because this film will definitely cause you too.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
11/13/07
Vince Koehler
Vince Koehler
Entertainment Spectrum

Belligerently unfunny.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
11/13/07
Pete Vonder Haar
Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat

The movie is less ho-ho-ho than uh-oh, or oh-no.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
11/12/07
Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There is absolutely no way writers were involved in the process that pooped out this holiday turkey.

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
11/12/07
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

Fred Claus is a large lump of coal in your pre-holiday stocking sure to give you a stomach ache after eating too much turkey.

Full Review Source: ReviewExpress.com | comment Comment
11/12/07
Michael Black
Michael Black
ReviewExpress.com

There are some scattered big laughs and a sweet message here, so I’m giving it a mild recommendation.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment 1 Comment
11/12/07
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper

Hélas, Fred Claus est aussi prévisible que la bouteille de Old Spice que l'on achète à papa...

Full Review Source: EnPrimeur.ca | comment Comment
11/12/07
Nicolas Lacroix
Nicolas Lacroix
EnPrimeur.ca

You'd better watch out! Santa's brother is coming to town, and the only way to have a holly, jolly Christmas... is without him!

Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Weekly | comment Comment
11/12/07
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
Sci-Fi Weekly

Don't make the mistake of misreading this mean-spirited production as a kid-friendly Christmas flick.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
11/11/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

With not even its excellent cast to recommend it, Fred Claus is an ill-conceived, charm-less film that will delight neither youngsters nor their parents. From tedium to schmalz, the film tries to be all things to everyone, and succeeds in none

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
11/10/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Santa's mother, who obviously never heard of Dr. Spock, violates important childrearing advice in 'Fred Claus.' Amusing holiday chaos ensues.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
11/10/07
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

I'm so glad there's another Fred movie. I've been getting Drop Dead Fred and Right Said Fred since I was in middle school.

Full Review Source: Can Magazine | comment Comment
11/09/07
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
Can Magazine

Fred Claus is pure Vince Vaughn hijinks, but the PG, family-friendly mode may not be his most advantageous venue.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/09/07
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

A ho-ho-hum yuletide comedy trying to shoehorn Vaughn's fast talking wise-guy brand into a warm and fuzzy Christmas confection that seems like it has been focus-grouped to smithereens.

Full Review Source: Maxim | comment Comment
11/09/07
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Maxim

The cast boasts three Oscar winners and two nominees. Normally, such a pedigree would guarantee great performances, at the very least.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
11/09/07
Loey Lockerby
Loey Lockerby
Kansas City Star

As derivative and predictable as any of the holiday comedies of the past few years, providing audiences with at best a handful of laughs. Most of it is uninspired.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
11/09/07
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

The story vacillates between broad, kid-friendly gags and a series of oddly sour riffs on the theme of adult sibling rivalry.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
11/09/07
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It senselessly dims an idea that should shine as brightly as Rudolph's nose.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
11/09/07
Peter Howell
Peter Howell
Toronto Star

The film is a disaster, with an ending that is exactly the kind of schmaltz Vaughn usually makes fun of.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
11/09/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

Latest News for Fred Claus

November 28, 2008: UK Critics Consensus: Local Critics Warm To Changeling; De Niro Delights But What Just Happened Doesn't
It's Friday, there's a new raft of movies in the UK cinemas this week, but are any of them any good? This week the UK film hacks give us their opinions on Clint Eastwood's... More...

November 24, 2008: RT on DVD: Fred Claus, Hancock, and 24: Redemption
The holidays are upon us, which makes it a perfect week to snuggle up with the superhero (Hancock), the spirited (Fred Claus), or the stealthy (Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer... More...

November 23, 2008: Don't make the mistake of misreading this mean-spirited production as a kid-friendly Christmas flick. Opens in new window
More...

November 22, 2008: Vince Vaughn's famously rude Wedding Crasher gets macho with Ludacris as a m-igitalized feisty Santa elf, while huddling over the pint-sized urinals in the john with another, to clue him about North Pole dirty dancing and romance. Opens in new window
More...

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