Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 24, 2008 7:16:28 AM CDT



Fred Claus: Ho-Ho-Hum

Posted Nov 9, 07 3:10 PM CST in Gossip Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Critics gave a frosty reception to Fred Claus, the new holiday comedy starring Vince Vaughn as Santa's rebellious brother. The cast, which includes Paul Giamatti, Kathy Bates, and Kevin Spacey, "is an embarrassment of riches for a script this thin," says Michelle Orange of the Village Voice.

Themes of adult sibling rivalry clash with standard Christmas magic, resulting in a movie "neither here nor there," writes Manohla Dargis of the New York Times. "The film is Elf without the heart, Bad Santa without the smut." Factor in an unwieldy number of subplots, writes the Onion A.V. Club's Scott Tobias, "and it's a holiday headache for the whole family."

Sources Metacritic, Village Voice, New York Times, The Onion (A.V. Club)

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Vince Vaughn arrives at the premiere of "Fred Claus" in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)   (Associated Press)
Paul Giamatti, right, and Vince Vaughn are the Claus brothers in the new Christmas comedy.   (© Warner Bros. Pictures)
This photo provided by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Paul Giamatti, left, and Vince Vaughn during a scene from "Fred Claus." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Jaap Buitendjik)   (Associated Press)
Paul Giamatti arrives at the premiere of "Fred Claus" in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Trailer for Warner Bros. Pictures' Fred Claus.   (metallo2006 (YouTube))

« Prev « Prev  |  Next » Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

movie   movie review   Vince Vaughn



Loading...

Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other Arts & Living Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »