Fred Claus and Radio

We got to watch two movies this weekend that have been clogging up the Netflix Queue. The first has been on the queue since last Christmas, Fred Claus. Since it's now almost time for presents, I figured we should watch it. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I liked it. It was kind of hard to get a feel for it though, because it was part kids movie and part adult comedy. With Vince Vaughn's rants and wisecracks, it felt like a Vaughn comedy. It was funny and he was his usually charming self, the same character he is in almost all of his films.

Paul Giamatti was a little weird as Santa, and didn't seem to be too comfortable in the role. Although, that might have been the point. Kevin Spacey as the efficiency expert with a vendetta against the North Pole, however, was great. He and Vaughn both led this film and made it fun. It did seem a little childish and out of place a couple times when we got weird cartoon sound effects for the action on screen. It made me think that there were going for a movie like Elf, but didn't quite get there. It was fun, but it won't be making my required Christmas movie list.

The next movie we watched was Radio. Now, before I am berated and mocked, this was Mrs Titan's pick. And before she is berated and mocked, it was her parent's recommendation. Against my better judgement, I put it on the Queue. Ultimately, this was Cuba Gooding Jr's "mental illness film." He plays a "retarded" boy (he was never diagnosed in the film, so we have to stick with that, sorry) who likes to hang around the school and watch the football practice. Plus, collect radios.

Anyway, he is eventually befriended by the football coach/athletic director and becomes beloved to the entire school. All of the cliches are there, he is mocked, the coach sets the kids right, they love him, a parent wants to be rid of him, happy ending where he is loved (at least he never plays).

Gooding Jr is kind of embarrassing to watch in this film. He is hard to understand because of his awful accent and his grotesque fake teeth. (I should point out that this movie is based on a true story and at the end they show a video of the real Radio. He did not have those wacky teeth.) The supporting actors, like Ed Harris, were great, but I couldn't understand their attachement to Radio. The movie wasn't the worst thing I ever saw, but it wasn't really worth watching, avoid it if you can.