Holiday films rarely break new ground when it comes to their accompanying soundtracks and this collection of yuletide cheer from the Paul Giamatti and
Vince Vaughn comedy
Fred Claus is no exception. That said, there are far worse people to spend your Christmas with than
Elvis ("Santa Claus Is Back in Town"),
Dean Martin ("Let It Snow"),
Doris Day ("Here Comes Santa Claus"), and
the Jackson Five ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), and the inclusion of the occasional odd contemporary cut from the likes of
the Waitresses ("Christmas Wrapping") and Sinéad O'Connor ("Silent Night") keeps things from descending into a blur of shopping mall-induced dementia, making this trip down memory lane a reliable joy. ~ James Christopher Monger