Fred ClausMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Fred Claus."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 42 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
7 OK for kids 7+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    Fred Claus sells you something you didn't know you wanted: a Vince Vaughn Christmas movie. Vaughn is not the hook. Neither is the holiday. The script, by Dan Fogelman, is smarter than that. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    The sweetest thing about Fred Claus is that the message about filial love feels genuine. I wouldn't have expected that watching Giamatti tell Vaughn, "You're the best big brother anyone could ask for," would make me choke up, but it did. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Yet another ho-hum family comedy hits screens this weekend -- this one in peppermint holiday flavor. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    Neither here nor there, the film is "Elf" without the goofy jokes, Will Ferrell or heart, "Bad Santa" without the smut, Billy Bob Thornton or spleen. Read full review

  • 50
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    The movie wants to be good-hearted but is somehow sort of grudging. It should have gone all the way. I think Fred Claus should have been meaner if he was going to be funnier, and Santa should have been up to something nefarious, instead of the jolly old ho-ho-ho routine. Read full review

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    The surprisingly puny haul comes from the jolly, usually sparkling comedy workshop of David Dobkin, who directed "Wedding Crashers," and Dan Fogelman, who wrote "Cars" -- two great movies that both make better stocking stuffers. Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    The film isn't just not funny, it is off-putting. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety | Brian Lowry

    Alternates between unpleasantness and Hallmark-sweet sappiness. Read full review

  • 30
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    Vaughn's con-man jive doesn't get much play in this one; he spends most of his time as a bitter creep, and the writing (by Dan Fogelman) isn't sharp enough to make the hipster-at-the-North-Pole theme pay off in any meaningful way. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    This is just plain bad - and it's a surprise. Read full review

View more reviews for Fred Claus on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 7+ Holiday comedy's no classic, but it's OK for kids.
What Parents Need to 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 movie's 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? Why 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 do you think 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?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Sends the message that, despite their differences, brothers should stick together. Another message is that no kid is truly naughty -- they all have reasons for behaving "badly."
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence and scariness: Fred is followed by a bunch of Salvation Army Santas and gets into a slapsticky fight with them. Nick and Fred get into a wrestling match/snowball fight, during which they crash into things, fall on the floor, etc.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: A few couples kiss; Willie flirts with Charlene; Charlene wears a skimpy Santa outfit.
  • language false3 Language: Language includes "crap," "hell," "idiot," "shove it," etc.
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Lots of brand-name toys in Santa's workshop, including Hello Kitty, Thomas the Tank Engine, Care Bears, and many more. Salvation Army Santas; Toys R Us; Gap bags; mentions of Supernanny, Patty Hearst, Superman.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: The elves hang out at Frosty's Tavern, but there's no evidence they're actually drinking
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

2.0

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… totally unfunny and disjointed … Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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