Red One | Movie review
Red One has been stuck in development for quite some time. With concerns about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's alleged on-set behavior, a constantly changing release date, and a ballooning budget of $250 million, it may end up being one of the priciest Christmas movies ever. Directed by Jake Kasdan, known for the Jumanji reboot, and penned by Chris Morgan of Fast & Furious fame, the film promises to be a wild, action-filled, and campy adventure featuring notable stars like Dwayne Johnson and Lucy Liu, along with comedic moments from the playful Chris Evans. However, it ultimately comes across as disappointingly hollow.
Here's another tale of Santa going missing. The Red One, played by JK Simmons, is abducted, and The Rock steps in as a serious, slightly insecure security ELF who worries about the growing naughty list. To track down Santa, he teams up with Jake, a hacker with a childlike disposition and a reputation for being on the naughty list, portrayed by Chris Evans. Jake is known for his reckless littering and his penchant for ogling women in bikinis. Together, they set off on an adventure through a landscape filled with Christmas folklore, a touch of magic, and some futuristic technology.
The effort to blend these two different realms—one filled with advanced technology, where Santa monitors his calorie intake and travels in a flashy gold batmobile sleigh, and the other offering a new perspective on Christmas legends, showcasing Santa’s mischievous yet lovable brother Krampus, humorously played by Kristofer Hivju—ultimately misses the mark due to trying to do too much at once.
The visuals are also excessive, and the use of CGI becomes overwhelmingly unrealistic. The scenery resembles a typical green screen setup: the North Pole transforms into a massive city reminiscent of Blade Runner, featuring a handful of Hogwarts-like towers and Thor’s Bifrost Bridge. The fast-paced action scenes, accompanied by loud punch sounds and a heavy soundtrack, feel off-key, as they give Dwayne Johnson a chance to simply play himself on screen.
Red One suffers from a weak storyline and flat characters, lacking a genuine core. The only exception is Jack's heartfelt journey to reconnect with his son and, in turn, his own childhood. This part of the story feels timely and relevant. However, the emotional impact is poorly executed—spoiler alert—when Jack briefly transforms into a child in The Rock’s view. During other emotional scenes in the film, the sincerity is overly emphasized through the frequent use of first names: “Go, Jake.”
In Red One land, Christmas is in full swing with twinkling lights, a crowd of people dressed in plaid, and festive gifts everywhere. However, the most important element of a Christmas movie – the emotional core – is absent.
Red One will be available across the country starting November 6, 2024.
