Imagine that Santa’s workshop is a government funded operation that requires annual audits, regular cash flow and legitimate approval from the government. David Dobkin’s Fred Claus depicts it as just that and explores a world where Santa Claus is somewhat socially acceptable and his workshop is on the verge of closure.
Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) is the bitter and excessively unhappy brother of the famed Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). When Santa and the North Pole begin to fall behind as they approach Christmas, he is compelled to ask his brother to help with the “family” business. As the two, polar opposite, personalities work with one another and prepare for the worldwide phenomenon that is Christmas they clash and find that life sometimes gets in the way of the things that matter the most. Can Santa and his helpers, Willie (John Michael Higgins) and Charlene (Elizabeth Banks), convince Fred that Christmas is worth fighting for and help him get his life back on track? And, can Fred help save the Christmas tradition and smooth things out for his family?
Vince Vaughn has long been known to deliver drawn out, witty comedy that transcends generations and reaches a wide range of audiences. It seems that this aspect of his acting never changes and that it is this that appeals so greatly to audiences. He delivers such wonderfully comedic lines that drive the plot and engage audiences. Lines like “...can’t get the sleigh off the ground,” are prime examples of Vaughn’s prowess in comedy and his ability to make audiences laugh. He continuously presents the audience with comedy like this and helps to brilliantly guide the story and the underlying narrative of happiness and perseverance.
Dobkin, Jessie Nelson and Dan Fogleman’s story is perfect for children and adults alike. It reaches the most innocent parts of the soul and convinces children that Santa is real and that anything is possible if you simply believe. For parents it is quite a bit simpler; the comedy is layered and deep, appealing to them in an incredibly positive way. The film’s ability to appeal to viewers of all ages is more than most films can claim to accomplish. The three leads on the story and direction find the perfect balance between the two and create a wonderfully entertaining film. While there were some blatantly obvious faults in the film, the sentiment behind the story outweighs the negatives and negates any reason one might have to mention the film’s shortcomings.
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