Fred Claus appropriate for the younger kids???

[bellebud]

i've started telling my ds6 that we have to pay santa money for the gifts (so he understands why he can't have an endless list), and why he'll get a 'big' item that he wants (a ride on backhoe thing), and his sister (8yo) will get a 'little' gift (mp3 player, jewelry, etc), but they're still *even*. he didn't question it really... I think he could care less *how* the gifts get here, as long as they get here!

btw, dd8 figured out everything about everything last year (santa, tooth fairy, the princesses at disney... everything! no more fun for mommy w/ her!) I think most kids in her 3rd grade class still believe in most everything, but i've told her don't talk about it w/ them to not spoil it for anyone.

 

[themepark]

I saw Fred Claus on Friday night and I share the opinion that it is boring and just not funny. There are some funny parts with the Siblings Anonymous scene where Fred goes to a meeting with brothers of other famous people. Kids would not get that at all. Some of the elf characters like Santa's secret service agents were humorous but overall this movie is a dud. Paul Giamatti's Santa is the worst I think I've seen. He is grumpy, not endearing, and a little creepy looking IMO. And Mrs. Claus was not a nice character. It is never explained who Kevin Spacey's character is working for when he is trying to shut down the North Pole. And there is an unnecessary love story between one elf and Santa's little helper. It was just oddly placed and had nothing to do with the rest of the movie.

I wouldn't consider it to be a family movie because there is so much that is not geared for kids understanding. But it's also not a typical Vince Vaughn movie with the raunchiness that would be geared towards a teen/older audience. The message at the end of the movie is a good one. There isn't anything I would say would be bad for kids to see, but my kids won't be seeing it simply because it's a terrible, boring movie.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thank you so much for all your reviews, from what i have read here and on the various movie websights you have all suggested. Doesn't look like this is something i would be okay with our 5 1/2 year old seeing!
THANK YOU!!

 

[tinkerbellmamma]

I just saw this on Sat and while I thought it was cute and funny, I would not be taking my 7yr to see it. Even though they never say anything about Santa being "real" or not, it mentioned the tooth fairy and easter bunny as well, I just didn't think it was age appropriate. Maybe 9 and up but not really younger.

 

[splashmtnfan]

DS9 told DH last week that he "thinks he's figured out the Mom and Dad buy all the presents."

I'm a little sad that that era has passed, but it was getting harder to explain why, when DS13 and I would talk about Christmas presents, I would say something like, "well, if that's what you want, you probably won't get much else." when he would ask for something expensive (the latest..a 36", wall mounted, flat screen, plasma TV for his room I laugh 'cause he's GOT to be joking!). DS9 would always ask why it mattered how much it cost because it was free if Santa brought it. I tried not to have these conversations in front of him, but slip up every now and then.

I've never been to WDW at Christmas. I'm anxious to hear how people handled the Santa situation!

Sorry, it is over for you, I am just hoping to get through this year, and then, next year, will be another story I guess 9 may be the age, but I am hoping for 18! I only have one and have so much fun with the whole, Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny thing.

 

[stacy6552]

we took our 8 yr old. Had I seen it first, I probably would not have taken him, but I'm not all that concerned that he saw it. There's alot of "you wanna piece of me" type fighting, including a gang fight of Santas. I'd put the age group at the 10+ mark.

 

[cissy]

We took our 5 and 6 year olds to see it. We are very cautious with what they see and this should pose no problems for the younger set. It wasn't the funniest movie ever, but there were no spoilers. My kids did not come out asking if Santa is real. They understand these are actors and it is just a movie. As a matter of fact, we are always telling them which actors are in which movies so they get the whole idea that these are real people playing characters.

Yes, some of it went over their heads, but so what? My kids enjoy the whole atmosphere of the movies. The popcorn, the slurpee, it is all for fun. This movie has a good message about all kids being good and deserving love. And even my 5 year old got that. She specifically wanted to talk about that part of the movie. Not about Santa or Christmas, but about why children act badly. We had a wonderful family discussion about it.

Have fun and don't take it too seriously, your kids won't!

 

[JMCDAD]

I like Christmas Movies so I will probably take my kids to see it

My son age 8 was hinting mostly from what he heard in school that Santa wasn't real, but hang in there Moms and Dads cause I told him I didn't know what he was talking about, then recently he said to me " I can't believe those kids in school think Santa isn't real, how can MoM'S and Dad's afford all those toys , exactly I said they can't.., and then I said to myself but they do it anyway

So as an add on question , what are all yours favorite Christmas movies
One of ours is Elf , and I like Jingle all the way alot
Trying to think of some others

 

[nena]

My family went to see this yesterday and we liked it. The only thing I was concerned with was the opening scene, in which Santa is born. As a mother, I thought this movie had a great family message. I have been trying to get my kids to be nice to each other, as well as helpful, kind, caring etc. This movie touched my heart and made me cry several times. I may have gotten more out of it than my kids. But it did give me hope that one day, my children will stop bickering and just love each other!!

 

[disneyfansx5]

Here is the link to the movie review by Dove.org.

http://www.dove.org/reviewmasterframe.asp?SearchType=Source&Keyword=Theater&Unique_ID=6830

 

[jenwolgey]

We took our 5 and 6 year olds to see it. We are very cautious with what they see and this should pose no problems for the younger set. It wasn't the funniest movie ever, but there were no spoilers. My kids did not come out asking if Santa is real. They understand these are actors and it is just a movie. As a matter of fact, we are always telling them which actors are in which movies so they get the whole idea that these are real people playing characters.

Yes, some of it went over their heads, but so what? My kids enjoy the whole atmosphere of the movies. The popcorn, the slurpee, it is all for fun. This movie has a good message about all kids being good and deserving love. And even my 5 year old got that. She specifically wanted to talk about that part of the movie. Not about Santa or Christmas, but about why children act badly. We had a wonderful family discussion about it.

Have fun and don't take it too seriously, your kids won't!

 

[Faeriefan]

We saw it on Saturday and it's a pretty good movie. Didn't notice any swearing in it. It has a pretty good message in it as well. I liked it and plan to buy it when it comes out on DVD.

 

[agentpleakley]

DH & I laughed pretty much through the whole thing. DD(5) laughed. DS(11) hated it. I don't know why he didn't like it -- we thought it was great.

If there was any naughty language, I must have been laughing too hard at other parts to notice.

 

[mickeymel]

We will not be taking our kids to see it. Based on the family movie reviews I have read....I don't feel it is something of entertainment value I want my young kids to see (nothing to do with the santa questions). I can find lots of other things to do during the christmas season.