Phil Roberts 
Red One is big, dumb, and amusing festive fun. Although it’s wholly unoriginal, it excels with its tongue-in-cheek humor and bold characters. It’s far from a classic, but it’s acceptable Christmas cheer.
Can The Rock and Chris Evans save Christmas? That’s the burning question as MGM Studios and Warner Bros have pumped millions into finding out if this dynamic duo can pull off the impossible. After all, for a film to become a beloved holiday classic, it needs to be truly remarkable; I’m looking at you, VIOLENT NIGHT. So, can Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks production team and a star-studded cast launch Red One into the ranks of Christmas classics? Or is this festive film just one venture too far for the people’s champion?
REVIEW
Unfortunately, dear readers, “Red One” turns out to be a bit of a mixed bag. Director Jake Kasdan has crafted a crowd-pleasing spectacle that shines with action and adventure but falls short on story, featuring some of the cheesiest dialogue we’ve seen this year. In the end, the film is a big, dumb festive flick that offers some entertaining holiday fun. While it’s far from a classic, it manages to charm with its tongue-in-cheek humor and vibrant characters. It won’t go down as a classic, but thanks to the likes of Krampus and Chris Evans and a burst of creativity, it delivers a decent dose of Christmas cheer. Just remember to keep your expectations in check!
The film uses as many festive tropes and tidbits of iconography as possible to conjure the Christmas spirit, which works initially. After all, any Christmas film worth its salt needs to adhere to a checklist to capture the winning formula, and Jake Kasdan follows the rulebook step by step.
SECRET SANTA
After some character-defining backstory, we meet Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a loathsome sleazebag who is renowned for his ability to steal the world’s most secret data and locate anyone on the planet. After demonstrating his uncanny knack for being a miserable human being, O’Malley hacks into the Arctic geological seismic tracking system and notes a major disturbance. Little does he know, he has been hired to track Santa Claus and inadvertently revealed the location of Santa’s grotto at the North Pole to some very shady characters.
As the forces of darkness close in, Kadan introduces us to the legendary Santa Claus and his muscular head of E.L.F. security, Callum Drift, played by Dwayne Johnson. While Santa embodies the traditional image of the jolly old Saint Nick, Chris Morgan’s screenplay quickly reimagines him with a contemporary flair. Portrayed by the ever-reliable J.K. Simmons, this version of Santa hits the gym, savors a Philly Cheesesteak, and avoids the usual mince pies and cookies. Although he does indulge in some calorie-laden treats the night before his big day, he manages to keep his sweet tooth in check. It’s a bold and creative move to present a body-building, quick-witted Santa Claus. However, this approach doesn’t quite hit the mark despite offering a fresh take on the character.
JINGLE BELL “ROCK”
Dwayne Johnson’s Callum Drift contrasts this drastic new take on Santa Claus. Typically, Johnson’s movies utilize his impressive physique, oozing machismo, and almost indestructible persona to convey the story. However, with his daring and often eccentric screenplay, I’m happy to report that writer Morgan crafted a refreshing character for us to explore. While The Rock still embodies his signature style, he is thankfully given some new material to sink his teeth into, steering away from many of the usual clichés. Drift’s faith in the Christmas spirit is waning, leading him to resign as head of Santa’s security detail. While there are still plenty of dumb action moments to satisfy thrill-seekers, Drift’s journey of self-reflection brings some genuinely touching moments of contemplation.
Chris Evans’ character, Jack O’Malley, starkly contrasts Drift’s unwavering commitment to the cause. While Drift embraces the season’s traditions and wears them proudly, O’Malley is solely focused on himself, viewing Christmas as a mere inconvenience, even neglecting his estranged son in the process. This fundamental clash of beliefs forms the story’s core, as O’Malley struggles with a profound lack of Christmas spirit while Drift seeks to rediscover the goodness in people.
UNLIKELY ALLIES
The clash of ideologies climaxes when the malevolent Grýla, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka, orchestrates the kidnapping of Santa Claus. With his magical abilities at stake, she devises a plan to twist his powers and unleash chaos on Christmas. As the fate of the festive season hangs in the balance, Agent Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), the head of the global mythological defense agency, unites O’Malley and Drift for a crucial mission: to rescue Santa Claus and preserve Christmas as we know it. What follows is a multi-faceted adventure filled with twists and turns. Drift and O’Malley embark on a bold rescue mission that whisks them around the world, while Grýla hurries to prepare for her ultimate plan to obliterate Christmas once and for all.
ISSUES
This narrative sounds like a compelling storyline on paper and works well in places. Sadly, when the action kicks in with its use of woeful CGI, eye-rollingly lousy dialog, and bizarre story choices come into play, the film’s quality melts quicker than a snowman. There’s nothing quite as cringe-worthy as a hero soaring through the sky on a poorly rendered transit system, only to land flawlessly on a tumbling vehicle without breaking a sweat. Or consider the absurdity of battling an evil snowman on a sun-soaked tropical beach, not to mention how Santa’s workshop has been transformed into a makeshift government agency, complete with risk assessments and air traffic control! The necessity to explain every detail of the festive magic only undermines the sense of wonder that the filmmakers worked hard to establish, doing little to enrich the overall viewing experience.
The same can be said about the film’s unusual choices. I think the filmmakers lost sight of their target audience because the material is too intense for young children, even though many of the whimsical creatures and elves are charming for that age group. Yet, it’s also too juvenile for teenagers and older viewers to connect with. As a result, the film might have a hard time finding its audience. Christmas movies don’t need to rely on profanity to feel relevant or trendy, nor do they need to reinvent the wheel. Unfortunately, Jake Kasdan and his team seem to have missed the mark on both counts.
HIGH POINTS
Fortunately, Red One has redeeming qualities, as a decent movie is hidden beneath the chaos. The plot is bolstered by Chris Evans, who delivers a typically strong performance—he rarely misses the mark. However, his chemistry with Dwayne Johnson leaves much to be desired. On the bright side, Johnson embraces a fresh storyline that allows him to showcase his acting chops, which is a refreshing change. While this role won’t launch him into award contention, it represents a welcome departure from his usual character types, and I challenge anyone not to enjoy his hilarious slapping contest with Krampus.
When it comes to Krampus, Kristofer Hivju truly shines in the role once he slips into the Krampus costume. The Norwegian actor excels in this part, capturing the spotlight at every turn. I would love to see more of this character in future projects based on his performance. In contrast, Kiernan Shipka’s portrayal of Grýla feels a bit lackluster. While she delivers her performance well, it’s disappointing that she doesn’t receive nearly enough screen time, which feels unjust. Red One would have greatly benefited from a deeper exploration of her character and motivations, adding depth that was unfortunately missed.
VERDICT
While “Red One” aims to deliver lighthearted holiday fun, it ultimately comes across as a soulless blockbuster. The film’s action sequences are undermined by clichéd dialogue, mediocre special effects, a weak storyline, and inconsistent pacing. On a positive note, Henry Jackman enhances the overall experience with an engaging festive score, and Chris Evans adds a quality touch to the performance. However, the film struggles to pinpoint its target audience. It takes significant liberties with the character of Santa Claus, managing to squeeze out just enough holiday cheer to warrant its existence.
You’re in for a treat if you enjoy mindless action, festive fun, and quirky spins on the classic Christmas theme. However, for those who seek something more meaningful, Red One feels like just another soulless blockbuster that doesn’t land the sleigh. While it offers plenty of holiday cheer, it falls short of delivering any gifts worth keeping.
Red One is distributed by Warner Bros and is playing in cinemas everywhere now.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
