Fred Claus (2007)

We didn't put much thought into picking this one. Actually, the decisive factors were that it started fifty minutes earlier than American Gangster and i think the running time is about thirty minutes shorter. Had i known this movie was PG, i would have thought twice, because generally speaking, i don't like movies (especially Christmas movies) without cursing.

This is mostly nothing but what you'd expect, a feel good Christmas movie about Fred Claus's (Santa's brother) disfunctional family. Vince Vaughn plays his typical curmudgeon, but unfortunately toned down for a PG movie. One strange thing is the number of "legit" actors who are in this: Paul Giamatti (Santa,) Kevin Spacey (an efficiency expert sent to the north pole,) and Kathy Bates (Fred's mom.)

The other strange thing is the scene where Fred goes to a "Siblings Anonymous" meeting, where there are other siblings of famous people, namely Roger Clinton, Stephen Baldwin, and Frank Stallone. This scene was bizarre and came off as pretty undignified for all involved (such as when the group therapist instructs Stephen Baldwin to stamp his feet to "get Alec's attention,") as well as being out of place in a kid's movie.

You can probably see where this is all going. Apart from the Siblings Anonymous scene there weren't too many cringe-inducing moments, or at least none that bad. You'd be much better off renting Bad Santa than seeing this, unless you're seven. No watch checks, but then again i don't have a watch.