Fred Claus (2007)
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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 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 (Vaughn). After struggling for years to live up to the example set by his younger sibling Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), Fred has finally given up. These days Fred is working as a repo man taken to stealing the items he repossesses, and his shady tactics have just landed him in jail. While Mrs. Claus vehemently insists that Fred fend for himself, Nicholas refuses to sit idly by as his brother rots in jail and agrees to set bail if Fred will repay the debt by coming to the North Pole and help make toys for the upcoming Christmas season. But Fred isn't nearly as productive as your average elf, and he's got quite an attitude to boot. With Christmas fast approaching and Fred threatening to sideline Nicholas' entire finely tuned operation, the brother that always struggled to get out from under his sibling's substantial shadow finds out just how far the patience of a saint can be pushed before jolly old Santa reaches his breaking point. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- David Dobkin
- Written By
- Dan Fogelman, Don Fogelman, Jessie Nelson
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Nov 9, 2007 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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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.
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
The movie is less ho-ho-ho than uh-oh, or oh-no.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There are some scattered big laughs and a sweet message here, so I'm giving it a mild recommendation.
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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.
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Peter Howell, Toronto Star
It senselessly dims an idea that should shine as brightly as Rudolph's nose.
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)
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Cast
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Vince Vaughn
as Fred Claus
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Paul Giamatti
as Nick (Santa) Claus
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John Michael Higgins
as Willie
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Miranda Richardson
as Annette Claus
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Rachel Weisz
as Wanda
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Kathy Bates
as Mother Claus
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Trevor Peacock
as Papa Claus
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Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
as DJ Donnie
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Elizabeth Banks
as Charlene
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Jeremy Swift
as Bob Elf
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Kevin Spacey
as Clyde
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Rio Hackford
as Leon
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Elizabeth Berrington
as Linda Elf
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Bobb'e J. Thompson
as Slam
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Alan Corduner
as Dr. Goldfarb
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Jordon Hull
as Young Fred (6 yrs old)
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Liam James
as Young Fred (12 yrs old)
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Theo Stevenson
as Young Nick (6 yrs old)
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Allison Sparrow
as Girl w/ Plasma TV
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Fern Zimmerman
as Caroler
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Danny McCarthy
as Salvation Army Santa
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Keith Kupferer
as Salvation Army Santa
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Craig J. Harris
as Jermaine Santa
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Pete McCabe
as Scary Thug
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Jonathan Cullen
as Guard
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Wesley Chu
as Bonsai Chef
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Claudia Michelle Wallace
as Child Services Agent
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Guy Massey
as Child Services Agent
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Gabriel Pimentel
as Head Secret Service Elf
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Hassan Chikhaoui
as Secret Service Elf
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Vitalie Babara
as Secret Service Elf
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Morgane Monjauze
as Molly Gordon
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Caden Niewolny
as Timmy Jackson
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Angela Curran
as Old Woman Elf
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Celia Henebury
as Girl Elf
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Justin McEwen
as Orphange Kid
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Tyler Kelley
as Orphange Kid
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Dylan Minnette
as Orphange Kid
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Laurel Anne White
as Midwife
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Patrick Zielinski
as Cab Driver
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William Dick
as Group Leader
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Frank Stallone
as Frank Stallone
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Roger Clinton
as Roger Clinton
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Stephen Baldwin
as Stephen Baldwin
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Jean-Yves Thual
as Mission Control Elf
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Michael Mbhele
as DJ Donnie's Movements
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Burn Gorman
as Elf
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Orlando Seale
as Elf
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Charles Condou
as Elf
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Melody Hollis
as Timmy Jackson's Sister
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Mike Bacarella
as Wanda's Neighbor
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Bert Matias
as Eskimo
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Rusty Goffe
as Elf/Frosty Bar Man
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Pete Bonner
as Bonner Elf
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Tamara Aranovskaya
as Elf
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Natalia Avraimova
as Elf
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Irina Cheplyshkina
as Elf
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Shamil Galeev
as Elf
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Afiya Izmailova
as Elf
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Anton Khardarkevich
as Elf
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Zinaida Khardarkevich
as Elf
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Viktor Kharur
as Elf
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Zinaida Kharuk
as Elf
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Tatyana Kutaleva
as Elf
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Tatiana Lakhmytkina
as Elf
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Valentina Lipen
as Elf
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Vano Miranyan
as Elf
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Nadezda Miranova
as Elf
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Tetyana Moskalenko
as Elf
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Andriy Nagiyen
as Elf
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Firaya Nutfullina
as Elf
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Alexander Pavlov
as Elf
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Tatiana Pavlova
as Elf
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Antanina Satsura
as Elf
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Nadiia Shchava
as Elf
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Svetlana Shishkevich
as Elf
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Galina Shurygina
as Elf
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Irina Skrinichenko
as Elf
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Nina Sorokoletova
as Elf
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Victor Sovpenets
as Elf
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Veronika Starostina
as Elf
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Inna Sushkova
as Elf
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Mykola Yevdokymov
as Elf
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Alexey Zalatin
as Elf
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Don Goodman
as Money Donor
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Ramona Giambalvo
as Money Donor
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Christ Kopoulos
as Money Donor
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Jeannette Francis
as Money Donor
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Patrick Morris
as Money Donor
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Douglas Colber
as Singer
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Beth Kondrat
as Singer
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Debra Congram
as Singer
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Erich K. Kurschat
as Singer
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Deanna Edgerson
as Singer
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Anthony D. Potempa
as Singer
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Robert H. Frenier
as Singer
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Paul E. Reineck
as Singer
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Johanna K. Hauki
as Singer
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Julie Simms
as Singer
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Tracy M. Snell
as Slam's Adoptive Mother
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Antinko Zanjelo Waddell
as Slam's Adoptive Father
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Kiara Allyce Greene
as Slam's Adoptive Sister
- Judi Dench
- Ludacris
- Joseph Mazurk







