To me, Fred Claus is the greatest Christmas film of all time. With a story that balances childhood joy and family fun with moments of darker comedy and mature themes, this speaks to the very best that Christmas has to offer, and is, in my opinion, one of the most criminally underrated Festive Films of all time.
In complete transparency, some of the effects in Fred Claus have dated poorly and the sound effects are almost farcical at points, but the pitch-perfect performances from this surprisingly stacked cast, witty comedy and delicious Christmas colour push these thoughts from my mind as quickly as they appear.
Vince Vaughn is as typically funny in Fred Claus as ever, and, much like Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol, Kevin Spacey absolutely sells this story by approaching his role with complete sincerity. There is one scene between Paul Giamatti and Kevin Spacey that might legitimately have been ripped from the script of a courtroom drama- these two are absolutely magnetic particularly in this one scene, but throughout their screentime.
Are Oscar winners Rachel Weisz and Kathy Bates slightly underused here? Perhaps, but for me, this film truly understands the meaning of Christmas and this is no better exemplified than in the final minutes of the film as the elves run to the live snow globe to the backing tune of ‘Silent Night’.
On this note, the soundtrack to this film is exceptional, choosing Christmas songs that manage to stray from the usual suspects whilst maintaining the festive feel, and there are some genuinely magnificent shots throughout this that, in isolation, might look like that of an entirely different film.
From the Santa Claus chase scene to the Rubberneckin’ dance scene, from the Giamatti/Spacey showdown to Siblings Anonymous, to me, Fred Claus is the greatest Christmas movie of all time…
Cry-O-Meter:
Yes
‘You are the best big brother anybody could ever ask for.’
Number of Watches:
8
Fifth Watch:
December 2021 (Approx.)
w/ EP, SP, JP, NKH, CP & AP
Sixth Watch:
December 2022 (Approx.)
w/ ZK
Seventh Watch:
24/12/2023
Bloomfield Road Christmas Eve 2023
w/ EP, MR & LR
Eighth Watch:
24/12/2025
Bloomfield Road Christmas Eve 2025
w/ ZK, EP, MR & LR
To me, Fred Claus is the greatest Christmas film of all time. With a story that balances childhood joy and family fun with moments of darker comedy and mature themes, this speaks to the very best that Christmas has to offer, and is, in my opinion, one of the most criminally underrated Festive Films of all time.
In complete transparency, some of the effects in Fred Claus have dated poorly and the sound effects are almost farcical at points, but the pitch-perfect performances from this surprisingly stacked cast, witty comedy and delicious Christmas colour push these thoughts from my mind as quickly as they appear.
Vince Vaughn is as typically funny in Fred Claus as ever, and, much like Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol, Kevin Spacey absolutely sells this story by approaching his role with complete sincerity. There is one scene between Paul Giamatti and Kevin Spacey that might legitimately have been ripped from the script of a courtroom drama- these two are absolutely magnetic particularly in this one scene, but throughout their screentime.
Are Oscar winners Rachel Weisz and Kathy Bates slightly underused here? Perhaps, but for me, this film truly understands the meaning of Christmas and this is no better exemplified than in the final minutes of the film as the elves run to the live snow globe to the backing tune of ‘Silent Night’.
On this note, the soundtrack to this film is exceptional, choosing Christmas songs that manage to stray from the usual suspects whilst maintaining the festive feel, and there are some genuinely magnificent shots throughout this that, in isolation, might look like that of an entirely different film.
From the Santa Claus chase scene to the Rubberneckin’ dance scene, from the Giamatti/Spacey showdown to Siblings Anonymous, to me, Fred Claus is the greatest Christmas movie of all time…
Cry-O-Meter:
Yes
‘You are the best big brother anybody could ever ask for.’
Number of Watches:
8
Fifth Watch:
December 2021 (Approx.)
w/ EP, SP, JP, NKH, CP & AP
Sixth Watch:
December 2022 (Approx.)
w/ ZK
Seventh Watch:
24/12/2023
Bloomfield Road Christmas Eve 2023
w/ EP, MR & LR
Eighth Watch:
24/12/2025
Bloomfield Road Christmas Eve 2025
w/ ZK, EP, MR & LR
