Fred Claus – I Could Take It or Leave It

Admittedly, I walked into the theater last night with high expectations.  I was enthusiastic that Fred Claus would be very similar to Elf.  Remember Elf from a couple of years ago – that HUGE Holiday movie with Will Ferrell?  The difference between Elf and Fred is that Elf was well-written and the story flowed.  Fred was not.  However, there are a few positives sprinkled into the movie that made the message behind the story as the thing that captures the viewers heart.  Let me start with a brief synopsis of the film first.

Directed by the Wedding Crashers team, Fred Claus has an all-star cast headed by Vince Vaughn as Fred, Paul Giamatti as St. Nick himself,  and Kevin Spacey as Clyde Northcut, the man that just might stop Christmas all-together IF he gets his way.  The story begins with a short tale into the lives of both Fred and his brother Nicholas.  We discover that Nicholas’ heart of gold outshines Fred’s do-good personality in that their mother favors Nicholas over Fred.  As a result, Fred has to live in Nicholas’ shadow, which doesn’t sit well with him so he leaves their storybook home for Chicago, Illinois where he finds employment in the most negative way possible – as a repo man.  Soon he finds himself in a bit of a dilemma where he has no choice but to call his brother, St. Nick, for help.  Before Nick will give him any money, Nick tells Fred that he has to go to the North Pole to help prepare for Christmas first.  Fred has no choice but to go and it is from that point on that the film begins to lose its charm.

While there are some comedic moments thrown in throughout the film, the story does not flow well, which is sad because it’s got a really positve message.  I think the part of Fred was a bit out of Vince Vaughn’s element.  There were times when he had to play a touching older-brother/father-figure type of role and while he made an attempt to be touching, he really wasn’t.  That was his downfall.  Paul Giamati, on the other hand, played his part as Santa very well.  Of course, I’m sure the fat suit helped him become the role too.  As for Kevin Spacey, I couldn’t tell if his part was over the top or if it was he that was over the top.  For most of the film he was the BIG MEAN MAN and then at the end for one scene, and one scene only, he turned into a teddy bear of a soul.  This brings me back to my original point, the film did not flow well.

BUT, I will say this, I left the theater smiling and at one point, being the sap that I am (I do cry at Hallmark commercials after all), I can even say I shed a tear or two.  The message of giving back and  finding the heart within yourself, makes it worth the matinee price.  It’s a cute movie.  It’s a funny movie (at times).  It’s a movie with heart.  It just needed a bit more help with the flow…and quite possibly,  a different star in the role of Fred.  Sorry, Vince. 

I give it

 1/2 reels

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