FRED CLAUS (Vince Vaughn) is Santa’s (Paul Giamatti) bitter brother.  Fred is forced to help the elves with Christmas to repay a gambling debt.  Needless to say, he brings more trouble to Santa.  With almost Christmas being cancelled, a change of heart has Fred saving Christmas Day.  This is typical sentimental festive fare with lots of good hearted messages thrown for no reason at all.

For a comedy, FRED CLAUS contains too many unfunny set pieces.  The Fred/Santa snowball fight, the runaway sleigh bit and the Santa Claus Salvation Army chase hardly generate any laughs.  The film’s one funniest bit has Fred attend a Siblings Anonymous meeting.  Real life celebrity brothers, Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton and Stephen Baldwin vent their anger.  Also in the group are silent members that resemble Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood.

Despite a good multiple star cast, most - particularly Kevin Spacey, Vaughn, Rachel Weisz and Elizabeth Banks are either wasted or awful.  Kathy Bates who holds her own as the mother is the best thing in the film.

What makes FRED CLAUS so unbearable is that it is based on a genuinely novel idea.  But the writers and director Dobkin (WEDDING CRASHERS) are unable to take the story anywhere.  Worst of all is the fact that Vince Vaughn is allowed free reign to strut his stuff resulting in this year’s most annoying performance - only because Jake Black has no movie out yet.  The other lead, Paul Giamatti has the sense to play it cool and dead-pan. 
The first Christmas film of the season is usually the worst.  FRED CLAUS confirms this festive tradition.