By Curt Schleier

Stephen Baldwin, Roger Clinton, Frank Stallone.  They’re all in a self-help group called Siblings Anonymous.  And if you think they’ve got it bad, consider FRED CLAUS (Vince Vaughn), always overshadowed by his younger brother Nick (Paul Giamatti).

That is the premise of this silly confection (and I mean that in the best possible way), about Santa’s no account, scheming big brother.  Fortunately, we know Fred is basically a good guy because he’s kind to a young child who lives next door.  Also Wanda (Rachel Weisz) is his girl friend, and she wouldn’t go out with a bum. So the chances are good that all will end well.

The question is will we laugh along the way?  The answer is a resounding yes.  We’re not talking intellectual comedy here.  A couple of dozen angry Salvation Army Santas chasing Fred down the streets of Chicago and pummeling him when they catch him is not everyone’s idea of joyous Holiday humor.  But, then, not everyone has a sophisticated sense of the absurd.  As you and I do.

The film is driven by Vaughn’s verbal and physical gymnastics. He is the greatest film comic since Jerry Lewis – are you listening French people – who raises the level of every film he’s in.  He stands head and shoulders above his competition, including Ben Stiller. But then he’s about 6’5” so he pretty much stands head and shoulders above everybody.

In FRED CLAUS the problem is that Fred needs money badly and quickly to open a business.  He doesn’t get along with his family, so it kills him to ask Nicholas for a loan.  His brother reluctantly agrees to provide the cash, but only if Fred comes to the North Pole to help with last-minute production.  Demand for gifts is up sharply and there’s only so much the elves can do.


Of course, when Fred gets to the North Pole he causes all kinds of problems disrupting operations there.  And it couldn’t come at a worse time.  Evil efficiency expert Clyde (the delicious Kevin Spacey) is examining the operation.  If things don’t work out, he’ll shut the place down and outsource everything to the South Pole. 

The stress is making Santa eat even more than normal.  (You did know he was chubby because the stress of his job caused him to snack between meals, didn’t you?)  A last-minute surge in production of hula-hoops and baseball bats (which don’t require a lot of time) allow the elves to produce enough toys for every child in the world. 

But then disaster strikes.  Santa’s back goes out.  What to do?  Anyone want to take a shot at this?  Right.  Fred mounts the sleigh and starts deliveries to children all over the world – including the kids in that Chassidic family in Brooklyn.  But will he finish in time?  Will he save Christmas? 

I don’t want to spoil the ending for you, but, guys, this is a family Christmas movie.  Of course there’s a happy denouement.  Even Clyde starts to smile.  His angry demeanor is a function of a Superman cape he never received as a child (a shout out to the Lex Luthor role in SUPERMAN RETURNS).


In addition to Vaughn, Giamatti’s Santa brings out the truly tortured soul that torments this often misunderstood character.  Hey, I’m kidding; it’s a comedy.  Enjoy.  I did.