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List Price: $28.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 140
Released: November 25, 2008 |
| Our Price: $9.98 |
| Used Price: $11.08 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
This is a story you?ve never heard before a hilarious and heartwarming comedy about Fred Claus Santa?s brother ? and complete opposite. After growing up in saintly Nick?s shadow Fred becomes a grouch who?s lost his belief in Christmas. Then one magical December Fred flies north (first class via reindeer) to find brother Nick is in trouble: a scheming efficiency expert is out to shut down Christmas forever! Expect fun by the sleighful as Fred helps save Christmas and rediscovers the gift of family. Join Vince Vaughn Paul Giamatti Miranda Richardson Rachel Weisz Kathy Bates Kevin Spacey and more in a yuletide treat to enjoy for years to come.Running Time: 116 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/CHRISTMAS UPC: 085391139577 Manufacturer No: 1000023975
Description of Fred Claus:
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
Fred Claus Reviews:
REAL CHRISTMAS FUN!!!! 
2008-12-02 - Vince Vaughn is the unfortunate underachieving older brother of none other than Santa himself. And while St. Nick works all year to prepare for making that one day special for kids all over the world, Fred works for a repo company...taking back possessions from folks unable to pay their bills....kids included. When his latest money making scheme lands him in jail, Fred calls his little brother Nick in the North Pole to bail him out...AND loan him 50k for yet another business deal. Nick agrees to the bail out...but says that Fred must come to the North Pole to work and earn the rest. Coinciding with Fred's disastrous visit is that of an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey)...sent in to ensure that Santa is operating the most effective toy-making business that he can. Three strikes, and Santa can be completely shut down....and of course, Fred does his part to ensure that Santa is running a "flaw full" operation.
Great screenplay, with the can't miss wit of Vince Vaughn...there's a great dance scene in the toy factory with all of the elves, Fred (Vince) leading the party, and none other than Ludacris--cast as a DJ elf-- spinning the tunes. A wonderful family movie.
DYB
Excellent !
2008-12-02 - We watched this as a family on Thanksgiving day and kept everyone 7-38 entertained. The concept is Saint Nicolas is Fred's little brother. Nicolas of course did nothing every wrong so Fred turns away from his family. Fred asks his brother for some money and in exchange agrees to work in the family business!!! Great actors that bring to movie up a level. I think this will become a standard Christmas movie to watch every year.
Several Laugh-Out-Loud Moments in this Sarcastic Christmas Flick 
2008-12-01 -
It's hard to compete with nostalgic classics like A Christmas Story and pure childish fun like Elf. Many have failed.
Fred Claus. Well, Fred nearly pulls it off. Enough for me to purchase the movie and make it a must watch at least once during the Christmas season. Vince Vaughn plays a sarcastic screw-up, and fans of his or sarcastic screw-ups are sure to find Fred Claus appealing.
Of course there are the sappy and yeah-right moments that make the movie a warm, fuzzy family movie. Cheesiness happens, but really, in the North Pole you gotta expect some sugar and/or cheese. There are a few off-color comments and/or double entendres but it is pretty clean overall.
The most amusing theme is the sibling rivalry. Nicholas (Giamatti) is a saint of course, and Fred, well, he's the older and forgotten brother, which requires a few laugh-out-loud counseling sessions. Several "cameo" appearances make the movie fun for adults and will likely keep them engaged if Vaughn isn't enough to do so. The kids will love the whole North Pole fun and frivolity.
An Average Christmas Comedy 
2008-12-01 - Fred Claus, the heretofore unknown brother of Santa Claus is the subject of this entirely average holiday film. This film is better than last year's horrible Deck the Halls, but not even close to the holiday [now] classic Elf (Infinifilm Edition). The best parts of this movie are the very enjoyable stars including of course Vince Vaughn, who is very funny on screen, and Paul Giamatti. There are several nice little messages in the film, but there really is not any new ground covered here. I think this is a three star movie that is enjoyable for family viewing, especially the younger viewers.
Wonderful seasonal movie
2008-11-29 - I loved the movie. The ending was really the best part where 2 brothers get back together and discover they love each other, and all is right with the world. A+ Ivylou
