It has a rocky start and middle. It’s the last part where the Christmas spirit comes in and it is actually fun. There’s a lot of talking and arguing to get through before the movie gets good. Kevin Spacey steals the show though and is too good in a Christmas movie. When he is a jerk who wants to ruin Christmas.

Fred Claus has an idea that, at first, could have offered quite a lot: Santa Claus has a resentful, selfish, loud-mouthed brother who is much less exemplary than he is. With Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates and Kevin Spacey, you would expect a Christmas comedy with more bite, more rhythm and more laughs. But the film falls far below the level of its cast. The main problem is the script. Everything is too simple, too childish and too familiar. The story of a cynical character who does not believe in Christmas, or dislikes it, or has to learn a lesson about kindness, family and redemption, has already been told in countless ways. Here it is told once again, but without much imagination. The names change, the North Pole is added, Santa’s brother is introduced, and little else. Vince Vaughn tries to pull the film into his own territory, with his fast-talking style, sarcasm and slightly tiring mischief. At times it works, because he has comic presence and knows how to play selfish characters who are not completely hateful. But the material does not help him. The film seems to want Fred to be a funny disaster, but also lovable, family-friendly and redeemable from the beginning. In the end, it lands somewhere in the middle: not naughty enough to be truly funny, not tender enough to be moving. Paul Giamatti as Santa Claus is one of the film’s best ideas. He brings humanity, fatigue and a touch of melancholy, and he could have been used much better. Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates and Kevin Spacey are also there, but the feeling is that there is too much talent for such a small and uninspired story. It is frustrating to see a cast like this trapped in a comedy that never really uses them. Visually, the film has what you expect: workshops, elves, snow, sleighs, Christmas atmosphere and the kind of friendly design that fits a family movie. But there is no real surprise there either. Everything looks correct, but manufactured. The film does not have enough magic to be remembered as a Christmas classic, nor enough bite to become a mischievous alternative. Fred Claus is not unbearable, but it is very weak. It can work for a Christmas afternoon when you do not want to think too much, especially if you accept that it is basically a children-and-family comedy with the occasional adult joke along the way. But with that cast and that premise, it should have offered much more. In the end, it is a present wrapped in shiny paper, but rather empty inside.

There’s some laughs and some good heart felt moments “towards the end.” You just have to get through a lot of Vince Vaughn rambling to get there. As well as too many argue mental scenes for a family film.

I compare this to The Santa Clause and it definitely doesn't hold up to that comparison well. Vaughn's charm is the only thing pulling this through at all, but it really is kind of a creepy feeling Christmas films. It just feels a little off.

Honestly a breath of fresh air to watch. Usually around this time of year nostalgia takes over and I watch all of the Tim Allen Santa Claus movies. It was nice to see another take on a similar concept. The CG for the elves and the random cartoon sound effects kinda kill some of the vibe for me, but the humor is kinda funny and I thought the acting and the narrative were serviceable enough. I wouldn't mind watching it again sometime.