Fred Claus (2007)

Director:

David Dobkin

Writers (WGA):

Dan Fogelman (screenplay)
Jessie Nelson (story) ...

Release Date:

9 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Santa's brother is coming to town.

Plot:

Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole.

Plot Keywords:

North Pole | Christmas | Bitterness | Critically Bashed | Barefoot

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 4	4:15 PM	MAX
Tue. Dec. 8	8:45 AM	MAX
Sun. Dec. 13	12:00 PM	MAX

Cast

Vince Vaughn	...	Fred Claus
Paul Giamatti	...	Nick 'Santa' Claus
John Michael Higgins	...	Willie
Miranda Richardson	...	Annette Claus
Rachel Weisz	...	Wanda
Kathy Bates	...	Mother Claus
Trevor Peacock	...	Papa Claus
Ludacris	...	DJ Donnie (as Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges)
Elizabeth Banks	...	Charlene
Jeremy Swift	...	Bob Elf
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Linda Elf
Kevin Spacey	...	Clyde
Rio Hackford	...	Leon
Bobb'e J. Thompson	...	Slam
Allan Corduner	...	Dr. Goldfarb

Also Known As:

Joe Claus (USA) (working title)
Untitled Vince Vaughn/David Dobkin Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and some rude humor.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Canada:G (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:6 | USA:PG (certificate #43797) | UK:PG | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Denmark:A | South Africa:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Project was originally titled "Fred Claus", but was changed due to a potential rights issue. It was then retitled "Joe Claus." After the rights were cleared, the title returned to "Fred Claus."

Goofs:

Plot holes: Willy tells Fred that they have 10 hours to deliver the presents. Based on the world sunset/sunrise times on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, they would actually have up to 29 hours, the points closest to the North Pole being in darkness the longest. Moreover, the sequence has Fred traveling to spots that would not be in darkness at the same time.

Quotes:

Clyde: You're all fired, in the morning you'll all be on a bus back to Elfistan!

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

My Back Pages

Every Child Deserves a Christmas Gift

Santa Claus' older brother Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) was raised in the shadow of his famous brother and has issues with his mother (Kathy Bates). In Chicago, near Christmas, Fred asks for money on the streets trying to raise fifty thousand dollars to open a betting shop. However, many legalized Salvation Army Santa Claus chase him and Fred is arrested and sent to jail. He calls his brother Nick Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti) in the North Pole that accepts to pay his bail of five thousand dollars and proposes to lend the amount Fred needs provided he comes to the North Pole to help him in his factory. Meanwhile the mean efficiency expert Clyde Northcut (Kevin Spacey) arrives in the North Pole with the intention of finding three non-conformities in the audit of the manufacturing process and shut-down the facility. When Fred is assigned to work in the Naughty-Nice Department, the troubles of Nick begin.

I do not recall the last time I have seen such entertaining Christmas movie. "Fred Claus" is funny and has many hilarious moments (my favorite is the siblings-anonymous, with Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton and Stephen Baldwyn among others that resemble Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman and other famous people). The message that there is no naughty child and consequently every child deserves a Christmas gift is great. The cast leaded by Vince Vaughn is fantastic and I really loved this movie. I wish Merry Christmas to all IMDb movie and TV lovers and staff. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Titio Noel" ("Uncle Claus")