Fred Claus

Fred Claus (2007)

  • 21% of critics liked it
    (139 reviews)

  • 49% of users liked it
    (357,119 ratings)

Santa's black-sheep brother gets a much-needed shot at redemption in this holiday comedy reuniting actor Vince Vaughn and director David Dobkin (Clay Pigeons, Wedding Crashers). It's not easy being the brother of a benevolent and beloved saint, and no one knows that better than Fred Claus… More

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PG,
Directed By
Written By
Dan Fogelman, Don Fogelman, Jessie Nelson
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Nov 9, 2007 Wide
Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Jonathan Crocker, Time Out

    Dobkin's film is lit up by a couple of genius scenes: first, a siblings support-group attended by Frank Stallone, Stephen Baldwin and Roger Clinton; second, a superb in-joke triggering Spacey's redemptive thaw-out, stoking a festive glow against the odds.

  • Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

    The movie is less ho-ho-ho than uh-oh, or oh-no.

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    There are some scattered big laughs and a sweet message here, so I'm giving it a mild recommendation.

  • Claudia Puig, USA Today

    As derivative and predictable as any of the holiday comedies of the past few years, providing audiences with at best a handful of laughs. Most of it is uninspired.

  • Peter Howell, Toronto Star

    It senselessly dims an idea that should shine as brightly as Rudolph's nose.

Read all 18 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Phil H


    Great film, probably the best Xmas movie for years. It works mainly because of Vaughn and his deadpan, sarcastic deliveries and being an average Joe in his forties. It makes you feel good not because of the Xmas factor but because Vaughn makes you feel happy and comfortable about… More

  • Sophie B


    Not the funniest film ever but it does make you feel like you need to be more tolerant of your family and help them out during the holidays. Something to get you in the mood.

  • Anthony L


    You don't have to be a cynical old Scrooge like me to see through this transparent nonsense. The moral message is totally confused, just when it becomes time to explain themselves, someone throws a dwarf in the air like it's funny and socially acceptable. Where exactly was… More

  • Jim C


    This is not a jolly film, its funny for a while and then becomes very dark and creepy, but had a great moral that some kids aren't bad, mayb ethey just didn't have a fair childhood and it wan't their fault, and they shouldn't be discriminated from any other kids.

  • KJ P


    Fred Claus is very cliche and very boring, right up until it hits ist's mark halfway through. It earns back everything it was drgging behind and leaves you with just enough emotion to cry along with at the end. Tears of joy filled my eyes, and it should to everyone. It's… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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