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Fred Claus
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Metascore
42 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
4.7 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn
  • Summary: Fred Claus has lived almost his entire life in his little brother's very large shadow. Fred tried, but he could never live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was just a perfect...well...Saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a repo man who then steals what he repossesses. Now Fred's dirty dealings have landed him in jail. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas agrees to bail out his big brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and work off his debt making toys. The trouble is, Fred isn't exactly elf material--and with Christmas fast approaching, this one bad seed could jeopardize the jolliest holiday of the year. Has Fred finally pushed his little brother to the brink? This time, what Fred may have stolen is Christmas itself, and it's going to take more than Rudolph to set things right. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 31
  3. Negative: 9 out of 31
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    75
    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.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    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.
  3. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Carla Meyer
    38
    A lackluster holiday-theme comedy featuring production design half a notch above a snow globe and a star who doesn't so much act as revive a well-worn persona.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 25
  3. Negative: 10 out of 25
  1. StanB.
    10
    Great holiday movie. The scrooges who are looking for another "It's a Wonderful Life" need to look elsewhere.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. JayH.
    5
    Fair Christmas family film, I don't see it destined to be a holiday classic, but it entertains to a degree. Kevin SApacey is wonderfully evil, and there are a couple of very memorable scenes.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JimH.
    3
    Vince Vaughn is NOT funny. This is a Christmas movie gone bad. He is not cut our for childrens movies. Save your money or go to a different movie.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 25 User Reviews

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