Fred Claus
Fred Claus

Fred Claus

2007Movie115 minEnglish

Fred Claus and Santa Claus have been estranged brothers for many years. Now Fred must reconcile his differences with his brother whom he believes overshadows him. When an efficiency expert assesses the workings at the North Pole and threatens to shut Santa down, Fred must help his brother to save Christmas.

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Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes20%
Metacritic33/100
Google Users63%
Director: David DobkinGenres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

Fred Claus is the reindeer-juggling, incentive-challenged older brother of Santa Claus. Fred has always lived in his brother's shadow, and his resentment boils over when he's forced to work at the North Pole to pay off his debts. As Christmas approaches, Fred must decide whether to help save the holiday or sabotage it entirely, all while dealing with the spirit of the season and his family's expectations.

Critical Reception

Fred Claus received generally negative reviews from critics, with many finding its humor too crude and its plot predictable. Audiences, however, were somewhat more receptive, appreciating the holiday theme and the comedic performances, particularly Vince Vaughn's portrayal of the titular character.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film suffers from a weak script and relies too heavily on slapstick and crude humor.
  • Vince Vaughn's performance is energetic but can't fully salvage the predictable plot.
  • Despite its flaws, some found it to be a harmless, if uninspired, holiday comedy.

Google audience: Google users found the film to be a mixed bag. Many appreciated the comedic efforts of Vince Vaughn and the generally lighthearted holiday spirit, making it a watchable option for families. However, a significant portion of viewers felt the humor was hit-or-miss and the story lacked originality.

Fun Fact

During the filming of the scene where Fred (Vince Vaughn) is being pulled in the sleigh, Vaughn was genuinely terrified because he had never been on a sleigh before and didn't trust the setup.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Kamurai

Kamurai

Decent watch at best, probably won't watch again, but can recommend for off-brand holiday movies. While I like watching Vince Vaughn beat up Santa Claus as much as the next person, I'm not a big Vince Vaughn fan. I'd rather see what Pau...
John Chard

John Chard

Fred Claus (2007) Saving Christmas and Building Bridges. It does exactly what it says on the Xmas Movie Tin. Poorly received by the critics and equally unsupported by the internet hordes, Fred Claus may be guilty of sentimentality, bu...