Kevin Spacey Movie:

		List Price: $35.99		Label: Warner Home Video Salesrank: 5663 Released: November 25, 2008
		Our Price: $11.15
		Used Price: $6.62
		MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: Blu-ray

Editorial Review:
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/25/2008 Run time: 116 minutes Rating: Pg

Description of Fred Claus [Blu-ray]:
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 [Blu-ray] Reviews:
More of Elizabeth Banks please...
2009-11-30 - A wonderful feel-good Christmas movie, Fred Clause, brings to the screen the story of Santa Clause's older brother whose life took a turn toward naughtiness following the birth of the sibling who the world will refer to as St. Nicholas.
Fred Clause is a film about Christmas, human relations, hope and second chances as well as trust, love, and inner strength.
Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Elizabeth Banks (who is GORGEOUS!) and the rest of the cast, have done an excellent job with their performances, though Rachel Weisz seems out of place in this movie, i.e. an Englishwoman handing out traffic violation tickets in Chicago is rather unlikely. Nevertheless, the setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all very good!
Though not a masterpiece, Fred Clause is a movie definitely worth watching as it will surely provide for an evening's entertainment!


The dark heart of Christmas?
2009-11-28 - After watching this movie I realized I had not laughed once, and that's rare for me. There are other 'modern' Christmas movies that carry off the sarcastic side of Christmas without letting cynicism sink it to this kind of low. Kevin Spacey, a phenomenal actor, was given a banal bit part which he tried his best to carry off, that of an efficiency expert who carries Santa's "pink slip" in his pocket. Paul Giamatti and Vince Vaughn played it very convincingly, but the creative talents of Rachel Weisz and Miranda Richardson had no place in which to shine. The ending did nothing to lift spirits, and it was frankly weird when at the end Fred and Nick's mother implies that her own son (Fred) is a little outclassed by his love interest, who plays a meter maid (Rachel Weisz). What kind of mother says that about her own son (even in real life), especially after he just saves Christmas?

Is it almost over?
2009-11-24 - If I hadn't paid money to rent this last year, I would have turned it off after 30 minutes. My nine year old picked this movie after seeing the previews advertised over and over and after 30 minutes he left to go watch t.v. in his room. The previews contained all the funny parts so it left the movie pretty dull. Definitely not a heartwarming, get in the Christmas spirit kind of movie. Ho, Ho, Ho, Hum!

Fred Claus DVD
2009-11-24 - I was very happy with the price and the condition of the DVD. The shipping was very fast as well. Over all it was a great purchase.

A hilarious holiday farce
2009-11-10 - I really, REALLY enjoyed this movie, which tells the story of Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn), the disenchanted older brother of St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa (Paul Giamatti). Fred is everything Santa is not: irresponsible, bitter, and kind of shady. However, when Santa agrees to give Fred $50,000 in exchange for helping out at the North Pole right before Christmas, Fred catches the next sleigh ride over, and hilarity ensues.

This movie is fantastically funny, mainly because of Vaughn. His character's complete disdain for all things Christmas is hilarious, from the exasperated facial expressions to the snarky one-liners. The supporting cast is wonderful as well, especially Kevin Spacey, a vindictive member of an overseeing committee that is threatening to shut Santa's operation down. Also, there's a fantastic scene where Fred attends a Siblings Anonymous meeting. I don't want to spoil it, but watch for a few cameos and get ready for a lot of laughs.

The one negative aspect of the film: Rachel Weisz, who in my opinion is one of the most annoying actresses alive. The good news in that she's not in the film very much, and even when she is on screen, Vaughn's performance is so good that he kept me laughing and made me forget how much I want to slap that chick.

Overall, "Fred Claus" is a smart holiday farce that is definitely worth watching. I'm going to make this movie an annual Christmas tradition at my house.