| Vince Vaughn is enormously enjoyable as the titular Fred Claus, disgruntled older brother of the better-known St. Nicholas himself, i.e., the North Pole’s very own Santa (Paul Giamatti). A garrulous hustler running from the emotional fallout of the ultimate sibling rivalry, poor Fred keeps trying to find happiness through one failed scheme after another, pushing away the people who care about him most. When brother Santa puts the squeeze on him to help out in the toy factory atop the world, Fred turns the place into one big, raucous party. Unfortunately, he’s unaware that Santa and Mrs. Claus (Miranda Richardson) are under tight scrutiny from an oversight committee (represented by a calculating Kevin Spacey) and could be shut down. The film, directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), gleams and twinkles the way a holiday movie should, and has plenty of fun material for youngsters, including a wacky chase scene in which Fred goes on the run from a half-dozen, angry Salvation Army Santas. But Fred Claus is also supposed to appeal to hip adults with a taste for ironic farce, and on that score the movie feels like a succession of Saturday Night Live skits more than an organic whole. Still, Vaughn holds everything together with a smart, insightful performance that looks deep into his character’s torment--with more than a few laughs. --Tom Keogh |
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 Fred Claus, very funny! |
| Review Date: January 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Magie, United States |
| The movie Fred Claus was funnier than I expected. There where certain parts where my boyfriend and I were laughing so hard, tears came to our eyes. Vince Vaughn does a great job with Paul G.! Great fun for the whole family! |
Fred Claus
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| Review Date: January 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Arnita D. Brown, USA |
Fred Claus has lived his entire life in his brother's very large shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was just a perfect, well, saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a fast-talking repo man who's run out of luck and money. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas agrees to help his brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and earn the money he needs by working in Santa's Toy Shop. The trouble is that Fred isn't exactly elf material and, with Christmas fast approaching, Fred could jeopardize the jolliest holiday of the year. Be prepared for a great sled ride that takes you on a laughing spree of silliness. A great movie for the entire family.
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Another holiday tradition
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| Review Date: January 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ed, St Louis, Mo |
| Great Blu ray video and audio transfer. Great holiday story and one to watch year after year. Two of my favorite actors, Paul Giamatti, and Vince Vaughn were great! Fred Claus is one of a kind you won't want to miss. |
Good Holiday Fun
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| Review Date: December 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: CookiesRme, |
| Ok, seriously, now how can a movie with Vince Vaughn as Santa's brother not be good???? This is a very entertaining holiday movie both for children and adults, it's lots of fun to watch as a family, and there is actually a moral to the story! Sure to become a classic. |
very good
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| Review Date: December 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Wilma G. Cook, Clare, Mi USA |
| Thank you. The movie arrived in a good and timely manor and in good condition. I will purchase again. W. Cook |
Fred Claus
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| Review Date: December 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ashley E. Honerlaw, |
| This movie was delivered to me in a good amount of time and it was in great condition and new. |
Underrated
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| Review Date: December 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Austen Fan, Columbus, OH USA |
| I'd actuallly give this movie 3 1/2 stars. It's not a classic, but I like it and think there are a number of things that work. It's well cast and well acted--Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, John Michael Higgins, Kathy Bates, et. al. It has a modern sensibility and turns dark (and slows down) in the middle, but resolves nicely in a touching finale with a good (and surprisingly realistic) message. I think the special effects--especially on a small screen--look good. The story stretches credulity but it's a fairytale, after all. Don't get hung up on it. Directed by same guy that directed "Wedding Crashers," and he knows comedy. I think it's certainly as good as "Christmas Vacation" which has become a Christmas staple. |
Touching
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| Review Date: December 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Heidster, |
| I read another review talking about how this movie was moving, maybe because of their chlidhood. I too felt the same. Maybe I also had a pathetic childhood, but I loved the concept of this. There are not naughty children, just children who are misunderstood or haven't been given the best circumstances in life. If you are looking for a good message and fun humor this is a great find! |
Not 16:9 aspect - Black bars top and bottom/ 2:4:1
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| Review Date: December 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: P. Wright, Pennsylvania |
| Unlike some of the other reviewers, I enjoyed this movie enough to buy it in Blu-Ray, but I am not happy that I spent the extra money to get a Blu-Ray movie advertised as 16:9 that actually only plays on my HD TV/Sony Blu-Ray with black bars top and bottom. I thought perhaps there would be a video setting I could change, but not matter what is changed on the player, it is the same black bar top and bottom. This is the last time I buy a Blu-Ray movie from Amazon because I will have no way to tell what aspect I am getting. I will stay with the cheaper DVD widescreen format that actually fills the screen. |
Fred Claus/Fountainhead review
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| Review Date: December 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Doreen D. Wood, |
Thank you. I am very happy and satisfied with my movies Fred Claus.
Received promptly in great condition. Thanks again. |
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