Before he grew up to be Santa, Nick Claus was just a very, very well-behaved little boy who was constantly showing up his less-saintly older brother Fred. Now an adult, albeit one who doesn't seem to age, Fred (Vince Vaughn) is a fast-talking scam merchant whose luck finally runs out and so he needs his little bro (Paul Giamatti to bail him out of jail. Santa agrees, but on the condition that Fred earns his keep helping the elves get ready for Christmas. Complicating matters still further is an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) with an anti-Xmas agenda, and Fred's suspicious girlfriend (Rachel Weisz).
If the saccharine sentiments of Santa Claus and other seasonal offerings make you want to stick candy canes in your eyes, then this is the Christmas film for you. Acid-tongued Vince Vaughn is the unlikeliest Yuletide saviour since Billy Bob Thornton donned a grimy red hat in Bad Santa. And while Christmas joy does ultimately triumph, there's enough knowing sarcasm along the way to satisfy the gloomiest Grinch.
Fred Claus is a Film programme that first aired in 2007 and has been classified a PG certificate.
