Common Sense Review
FRED CLAUS is unlikely to become a contemporary Christmas classic like A Christmas Story or even Elf. But it features a top-notch cast (Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Weisz, Miranda Richardson, Kathy Bates, and Kevin Spacey), a series of slapstick gags, and plenty of North Pole-set mayhem. So if you don't mind that the story is less than enchanting, this is a decent-enough family-friendly holiday comedy.
As St. Nick's older brother, Fred Claus (Vaughn) has lived for hundreds of years in his sibling's shadow, and he doesn't like it. Although it's never mentioned how he spent the century-plus after his brother's canonization, in 2007, Fred is a Chicago repo guy who's dating a cutie-pie meter maid (Weisz). His dream is to open an off-track betting facility, but to get the $50,000 down payment he needs for the lease, he has to call in a favor from the North Pole. Santa (Giamatti) is willing to help, but only if Fred flies up to pitch in during the pre-Christmas rush.
Most of the film's humor comes from Vaughn in improv mode. His lightning-paced delivery is always a treat, even if he's not used to keeping his riffs PG-rated. (In one speech to Santa's elf workforce, the naughtiest Vaughn gets is to advise his boogeying little friends to "make bad decisions together.") Probably the funniest sequence in the movie takes place at a "Siblings Anonymous" meeting where famous "lesser-than" sibs like Frank Stallone, Stephen Baldwin, and Roger Clinton air their feelings about dealing with famous brothers.
But that scene, like the entire movie, goes on a tad long, especially considering that family comedies are usually 90 minutes (Fred clocks in at 116). To add dramatic tension to the bland premise of Fred working in Santa's workshop, a mysterious efficiency expert named Clyde (Spacey) hovers around with a clipboard and a scowl to determine whether Santa can keep up with the growing demands of today's greedier kids (apparently even the "nice" kids now want up to 15 toys each, as opposed to kids in earlier decades, who asked for one or two). If the elves can't meet their quotas, Santa will get pink slipped by an unknown syndicate called "the Board."
Even a 5-year-old can tell early on that Fred will rise to the occasion to save his brother -- not to mention all the Christmas-celebrating children of the world -- from a toy-less, Santa-less holiday. By the time "Silent Night" starts playing, even the Grinchiest viewer will feel a slight tug on the heartstrings, even if it's predictable movie manipulation.
Families who enjoy Christmas-themed comedies may want to check out The Santa Clause and its sequels, Elf, and Home Alone.
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that since this is the first Christmas-themed movie of the season, kids might be extra interested in seeing it. The trailers and ads feature the comedy's silly elves and slapsticky nature, and that's exactly what you get (along with a heaping sleighful of brand-name toys). This is no serious, high-minded holiday story; it's a simple comedy about Santa's jealous brother. While there's nothing scary or troubling in the movie, there are a few scenes of couples kissing (including Santa and his wife, and two elves) and a sad moment when an orphan says he doesn't believe in Santa. Fred and Santa get into a fight, as do Fred and a group of angry Salvation Army Santas, and there's some relatively mild language ("crap," "hell," etc.).
Families can talk about the movies themes: sibling rivalry, naughty behavior, and Christmas greed. Santa's parents, especially his mother, clearly favored him over Fred. How did that make Fred feel and act toward his family? How does he redeem himself? What does the average Santa letter include a request for 15 toys? Is that a good thing? Are there any toys you want after seeing them in the movie? Why do you want them? What about Fred's comment that no kid is naughty, and that every kid deserves one toy? Do you think that's true? Kids: How can you help a child like Slam receive a gift this holiday season?
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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