In this lame festive comedy, Nick "Santa" Claus has built a snow dome in his workshop that allows him to tell who's been naughty or nice. An inspector is coming to see if the whole shebang is running efficiently - but Santa's pugnacious, no-hoper older brother called Fred is intent on ruining things.
Fred is played by Vince Vaughn, the once "hot" star of Swingers who now boasts the seediest jowels in the business. He looks sick with unsatisfied vanity.
Whether involved in supposedly edgy tirades or grooving to sweet soul music in a beanie hat, his body language screams "I'm the only good thing in this movie!"
The rest of the cast do their best to entertain us. Paul Giamatti and Kevin Spacey, as Santa and the "efficiency inspector" respectively, make a curiously sweet double-act.
Also amusing is the Siblings Support group, featuring real-life "overshadowed" brothers, including Roger Clinton and Frank Stallone.
Sadly, what with the ghastly Fred (who's actually worse when he turns nice), and the silly elves, and the under-written female parts, Christmas cheer soon flags.
Fred Claus tries desperately for a Bad Santa meets Elf vibe. Five minutes in, the man sitting next to me was sound asleep.
Fred Claus
Cert: PG
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