|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The bonhomie in Fred Claus is sure to warm the cockles of both old and young hearts
Did you know that good old Santa Claus had a brother. Well, in Hollywood anything is possible, especially if one has to narrate a Christmissy story. So scriptwriter Jesse Nelson comes up with this guy who has lived his entire life in Santa’s (Paul Giamatti) shadow, a polar opposite of the St Nicholas character. "Have you seen a small tree grow in the shadow of a big one," is the line. That’s what Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) is all about. "I promise to be the best big brother in the world," says Fred after his kid brother is born. He tries to be like the younger Nicholas who is just perfect, well`85 a saint but in vain: he becomes a glib-talking man who’s run out of luck and money. Much against Mrs Claus’s (Miranda Richardson) objections, Nicholas agrees to help Fred on the condition he comes to the North Pole and earn money by working in Santa’s workshop. But Fred isn’t really made up of elf material and with Xmas fast approaching they get into all kinds of problems. They get tense and jumpy and Fred who is the target could well jeopardise the jolliest holiday of the year. But that’s when brotherly love steps in. It is an unlikely plot necessitated by that spirit of Xmas cheer but the road is strewn with thistles in the form of elf Willie (John Michael Higgins) and Fred’s lukewarm traffic cop girlfriend Wanda (Rachel Weisz) to say nothing of his dominating mother (Kathy Bates) and his tongue-tied dad (Trevor Peacock). Then there’s a North Pole workshop manager Clive (Kevin Spacey) and his cup of sorrows overflows. Director David Dobkin, whose Wedding Crashers was a real scream, doesn’t begin too confidently. In fact, he meanders hesitatingly and at times slapstick seems to dominate but thankfully he imbues it with an element of pathos and from then on, the Christmassy music, the flying reindeers and yuletide spirit takes over. Not that the characters are particularly quaint but there is certain warmth that keeps the story going. Vince Vaughn is not the greatest comedian born but he is capable of pulling the story through and Paul Giamatti who stole the show in Sideways lends enough support to keep the story afloat. There are some cute touches, like the "family reunion" and a sweet turn for the better in the last quarter. One can overlook the lack of credibility, after all what else is Christmas for, but the all’s well that ends well and Fred Claus is sure to warm the cockles of both old and young hearts. This cute story of bonhomie is ideal yuletide fare. — EEM
|
|||
|
|
|||
