MovieChat Forums > Fred Claus (2007) Discussion > You know what... I liked it

You know what... I liked it

posted 15 years ago by Bneidl
3 replies | jump to latest

Sue me. I just caught it on tv for the first time, and I thought it was a good, fun family comedy that will be especially fun to re-watch around the holidays. And my two daughters loved it.

Listen, I like Wedding Crashers as much as the next guy, but that doesn't mean that Vince Vaughn always has to be in R-rated comedies. If I'm in the mood for something in the R-Rated comedy realm, then I'll watch something that scratches that itch. But if I'm looking for something light and fun and Christmas-themed to watch with my kids, then I think this is a great choice. The imagining and presentation of the North Pole atmosphere was very well done (my kids were captivated by it), and I though Vince Vaughn brought a compatible degree of his usual acerbic schtick to the proceedings -- just enough to make this a bit irreverent, but also sincere enough to be a legitimate holiday movie. I plan to pick up the DVD so I can have this in the mix at Christmas time as an alternative to all the usual specials and holiday films we watch around that time.

By the way, as far as holiday comedies go, I think this was far superior to Will Ferrell's "Elf." And as far as the art direction and production values go, I think this film actually offered a much more rich and captivating look at the North Pole than the creepy "Polar Express" adaptation from a couple of years back.

[–] ruddyuni 15 years ago

Couldn't agree more. Very underrated

"When a defining moment comes along, you define the moment or the moment defines you" - Tin Cup

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] selkn-asrai 15 years ago

I admit it; I like it, too. And some of the hate that comes down upon this movie, I'm convinced, is simply because it's a Christmas movie. A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life aside, it's always seemed to me that holiday films wear virtual signs that read "Kick this. Hard."

As far as it not being funny, I wasn't looking for comedy as much as an interesting take on the usual Christmas film. I can ignore its cliches (which Christmas film doesn't have at least one?); I can forgive its absurdities (it's essentially a fairy tale.) And I also enjoyed it more than Elf.

I like it for the actors' deliveries and the interpretation of the brothers' relationship. Paul Giamatti is definitely my favorite Santa Claus, because he didn't play Santa Claus; he played Nick. I liked seeing Vince Vaughn work within the constraints of a kid's film (I think he handled it pretty damn well.) Kevin Spacey's monologue was pitch-perfect and Miranda Richardson made a convincing character out of a name working as an accessory. Some of the goofs say that backgrounds are "obviously fake," but I don't really care. The scenes are vibrant and I don't really expect the penultimate depiction of reality in which elves and an giant, omniscient snow globe are major elements.

Anyway, glad to know I'm not the only one who enjoyed it.

"Now, bring me that horizon."