History Film / FredClaus

* ChristmasElves: The dwarf variety. Except for one inexplicably human-sized elf played by [[{{Scrubs}} Dr. Kim Briggs]].

* ParentalFavouritism: Obviously their parents towards Nick. When one son is a saint beloved by all the world's children and responsible for rendering you functionally immortal while the other is a grinchy con-man who defined Santa's idea of naughty children, you're going to be a little favouritist.
** They were favouring Nick long before saint-hood, in several instances of childhood whenever Fredrick did something his mother was 'about' to positivly remark on Nicolas would top him in an outlandish manner. Then chides at Fred started when he tried putting logic to any of the things Nick did.

** They were favouring Nick long before saint-hood, in several instances of childhood whenever Fredrick did something his mother was 'about' to positivly remark on Nicolas would top him in an outlandish manner. The chides at Fred started when he tried putting logic to any of the things Nick did.

* Glurge: The movie provides the message that there are no bad kids because some of them might feel scared or misunderstood. While it's nice to look into the reasons and why to improve such behavior, the movie, however, instead delivers it in a way by showing that every kid deserves a present no matter how bad they behave, and thus implying that it's okay for kids to get away with bad behavior. Clyde is an adult and does try to fix what he screwed up, and Fred was at least able to have a talk with Sam before things got too bad, but whose to say that misbehaved kids(like the one boy who trashed his sister's room and beat her up with a bat) will interpret the fact that they still received gifts as a means to take advantage of it and continue misbehaving?

** With above mentioned Glurge, possibly some kids who have really misbehaved, like that boy who trashed his sister's bedroom and beat her up with a bat.

* ParentalNeglect: Freds mother in particular, she seems as incapable of saying anything nice about Fred as she is incapable of finding fault in Nick. Even at the end when then family is brought back together all she can say to him is that his girlfriend is too good for him.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Not once, not twice, but three times. Fred realises that his hatred of his family and the holiday has cost him almost everything. The bureaucrat realises how much of an ass he's been when Nick gives him the present he always wanted as a kid but never got. Then, believe it or not, Santa Claus has probably the biggest of all when he realises that it was his fault his brother turned out the way he did even if he didn't mean it and by proxy he judged probably millions of kids over the years as naughty by only their actions without bothering to ask 'why' they were being naughty in the first place and ruining many a childhood like he did the bureaucrat

* TropaholicsAnonymous: Fred visits "Siblings Anonymous" where the brothers of famous people try to find peace. Among those attending are Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton, and [[TheFundamentalist Stephen Baldwin]].

* KarmaHoudini: Fred's mother is not evil, but she's partly responsible for how he turned out. Unlike Nick, who realized what he did to his brother, she never realizes her own mistakes nor is she ever called out on it.

* KarmaHoudini: Fred's mother is not evil, but she's partly responsible for how Fred turned out. Unlike Nick, who realized what he did to his brother, she never realizes her own mistakes nor is she ever called out on it.

KarmaHoudini: Fred's mother is not evil, but she's partly responsible for how Fred turned out. Unlike Nick, who realized what he did to his brother, she never realizes her own mistakes nor is she ever called out on it.

Skip ahead two hundred years, Fred (Vince Vaughn) is a small-time hustler living in New York who appears to be in his 40s. He lives with his English girlfriend (who grows tired of him never having a stable life) and acts as a father figure to an orphaned boy. When his latest scam finally catches up to him (operating his own personal Salvation Army kettle), the only way he can post bail is by calling Nick (Paul Giamatti) for a favor. Despite his brother's callousness, Nick is more than willing to help, though Mrs. Claus (Miranda Richardson) is skeptical. As a compromise, Fred is willing to come up to the North Pole and do a little helping out.

* TheUnfavorite: Fred.

* {{Deconstruction}}

* [[RecycledTrailerMusic Recycled Movie Music]]: Five cues from AlanSilvestri's ''Film/MouseHunt'' score appear in the film (this was due to the film's original score by Rolfe Kent being rejected in post-production and the replacement score by Christophe Beck not being finished before opening, so much of the temp track ended up in the final cut). Silvestri was credited for its use.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Not once, not twice, but three times. Fred realises that his hatred of his family and the holiday has cost him almost everything. The bureaucrat realises how much of an ass he's been when Nick gives him what he always wanted. Then, believe it or not, Santa Claus has probably the biggest of all when he realises that it was his fault his brother turned out the way he did even if he didn't mean it and by proxy he judged probably millions of kids over the years as naughty by only their actions without bothering to ask 'why' they were being naughty in the first place and ruining many a childhood like he did the bureaucrat

* MayflyDecemberRomance: One of ''WebOriginal/{{Cracked}}'''s [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19598_6-horrifying-implications-classic-christmas-movies.html 6 Horrifying Implications of Classic Christmas Movies]] is that Santa Claus's immortal immediate family suffers from what the article calls the "Highlander Complex": "They will have to watch their friends and relatives wither and die right before their callous, eternal eyes."

* SubbingForSanta: Fred temporarily taks his brother's mantle.

* ParentalNeglect: Freds mother in particular, she seems as incapable of saying anything nice about Fred as she is incapable of finding fault in Nick. Even at the end when then family is brought back together al she can say to him is that his girlfriend is too good for him.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Not one, not twice but three times. Fred realises that his hatred of his family and the holiday has cost him almost everything. The beaurucrat realises how much of an ass he's been when Nick gives him what he always wanted, Then believe it or not Santa Clause has probably the biggest of all when he realises that it was his fault his brother turned out the way he did even if he didn't mean it and by proxy he judged probably millions of kids over the years as naughty by only their actions without bothering to ask 'why' they were being naughty in the first place and ruining many a childhood like he did the baurucrat
* MsFanservice: Really, the only justification for Elizabeth Banks's character being a human-sized elf & having a [[LimitedWardrobe wardrobe consisting entirely of]] [[SexySantaDress Sexy Santa Dresses]].

* PaternalNeglect: Freds mother in particular, she seems as incapable of saying anything nice about Fred as she is incapable of finding fault in Nick. Even at the end when then family is brought back together al she can say to him is that his girlfriend is too good for him.
* PaternalFavouritism: Obviously their parents towards Nick. When one son is a saint beloved by all the worlds children and responaible for rendering you functionally immortal while the other is a grinchy con-man who defined Santas idea of naughty children your going to be a little favouritist.

* SubbingForSanta-Fred temporarily taks his brother's mantle.

* [[RecycledTrailerMusic Recycled Movie Music]]: Five cues from AlanSilvestri's ''MouseHunt'' score appear in the film (this was due to the film's original score by Rolfe Kent being rejected in post-production and the replacement score by Christophe Beck not being finished before opening so much of the temp track ended up in the final cut). Silvestri was credited for its use.

* ParentalBonus: Fred is placed in charge of monitoring the "Naughty or Nice" list via crystal ball. He asks Nick if he could see if the Swedish Bikini Team is being "naughty."
** Don't forget Fred's barb to Nick if he's having trouble [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean "getting the sleigh off the ground"]]

A 2008 comedy about Santa Claus' estranged older brother, Fred. In the opening prologue, we see that Nicholas and Frederick are two happy siblings. Each year, around Christmastime, Nicholas starts getting more and more charitable. He gives away all his own gifts to poorer children. With their parents constantly praising his kindness, Frederick grows more and more resentful. Trying to show off his own selflessness, Fred makes a birdhouse. Unfortunately, as soon as it's hung-up, Nick saws down the tree to decorate the house. That was the final straw for Fred.