Writing an extremely critical review of Red One could be easy. In many ways, Amazon’s large-scale Christmas action-comedy, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, seems to showcase all the issues with today’s blockbuster movies.
The film constantly tries to build its own unique mythos, aiming to set up sequels that may never even happen. It cracks jokes that don’t always land and struggles to decide whether it wants to take itself seriously or play into the absurdity of its concept.
However, despite what the trailers might suggest, Red One is not the complete disaster it might have seemed. There’s a certain holiday spirit present throughout the movie that feels genuine. Maybe it’s this spirit that brings a sense of joy, or maybe it’s because Red One has a nostalgic vibe, as if it could have been a major hit in 2005.
In 2024, however, it seems destined to settle onto Prime Video within a month. Red One isn’t the lump of coal in your stocking that you might have feared. That being said, it’s also not the shiny gift under the tree.
What Is Red One About?
The plot centers on Callum Drift, or “Cal” (played by Johnson), who is head of the North Pole’s elite E.L.F. (Emergency Lodge Force) unit. Cal’s job is essentially the head of security for Santa Claus himself, played by J.K. Simmons. The two have worked side-by-side for centuries.
However, Cal has grown tired and frustrated with the ever-dwindling Christmas spirit that he sees in the world. Every year, it seems like fewer people believe in the magic of Christmas, and it’s taken a toll on Cal. This year, he decides to hand in his resignation, announcing that this will be his final Christmas season in service to Santa.
But Cal’s plans are interrupted. Just a few days before Christmas, Santa Claus is kidnapped by Grýla, a wicked witch played by Kiernan Shipka. Grýla’s abduction of Santa sends shockwaves through the North Pole, and Cal quickly realizes that he can’t take on the rescue mission alone. He reaches out to Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), the North Pole’s supernatural surveillance director, to help him track down Santa’s location.
As they dig into the mystery, Cal and Zoe discover that Santa’s location was leaked to Grýla by none other than Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a bounty hunter, hacker, and all-around scoundrel. Jack is a notorious figure, the kind of person who steals candy from babies and has little regard for the people around him. In fact, Jack is a Level 4 Naughty Lister, a rank that even he might find hard to dispute.
Jack’s life isn’t exactly glamorous, and his strained relationship with his son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel) only adds to his misery. He’s a washed-up loser, and he’s never believed in Santa Claus. So, when he inadvertently reveals the North Pole’s coordinates, he doesn’t even realize the consequences of his actions.
However, once he learns the gravity of what he’s done, Jack is transported to the North Pole, where he’s forced to join Cal in his mission to rescue Santa. The two form an unlikely partnership, one that closely follows the classic buddy-cop formula seen in many Dwayne Johnson movies like Central Intelligence, Baywatch, and Red Notice.
The adventure that follows is full of over-the-top holiday action. From battling giant snowmen to infiltrating Krampus’ (Kristofer Hivju) fortress, Cal and Jack travel across a snow-covered world to save Christmas.
Along the way, they even find a way to turn Hot Wheels toys into real vehicles, adding a playful touch to the action. In many ways, the film feels like a standard Dwayne Johnson action movie with a festive twist.
Red One Doesn’t Know Its Audience
With its cast of characters—including talking polar bears, CGI elves with an uncanny valley look, and Santa himself—it’s easy to assume Red One was made for young children who still believe in Santa Claus. The visuals and fantasy elements seem tailored for a younger audience. However, the movie is rated PG-13, which restricts the very audience it seems to be targeting.
Red One only includes brief moments of profanity, and without these moments, it would likely have received a PG rating, making it more accessible to younger viewers.
As it stands, the film has just enough holiday cheer and a few laughs to be enjoyable, but some members of its target audience won’t be able to watch it due to its rating. This discrepancy between the film’s content and its rating points to a larger issue in the production process.
Director Jake Kasdan has worked with Johnson before, and with success. The two collaborated on the Jumanji movies, which were far more entertaining than many anticipated. Those films had broad appeal, reaching audiences of all ages. However, Red One feels different.
Kasdan doesn’t seem as confident about the type of movie he wants to make here. Instead, it feels like he was brought on board largely because of his past work with Johnson.
Moments of Charm in Red One
Despite its struggles to balance humor and action, Red One does have moments that make it watchable. The movie is filled with plenty of laughs, both intentional and unintentional. Chris Evans’ character frequently reacts with utter confusion to the chaos around him, adding humor to the situation.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s character often delivers the film’s exposition with a serious tone, which sometimes creates unintentional laughs, as his lines feel surprisingly grandiose for a Christmas movie.
The world-building elements in Red One are also creative. Simmons’ portrayal of a buff, “Jacked Santa” brings a unique twist to the traditional Santa character, and he fits well within the action-packed storyline.
The concept of a militarized North Pole, complete with a security force and surveillance, is strange but adds a memorable element to the film. However, Red One doesn’t seem interested in showing these creative ideas deeply, opting instead for slapstick humor and the buddy-cop dynamic between Johnson and Evans.
One of the highlights of Red One comes when Cal and Jack make their way to Krampus’ fortress. Many of the film’s CGI backgrounds are noticeable, and the design of the elves has an uncanny quality that can be unsettling. However, in this scene, the film leans more on practical effects, which works to its advantage.
Krampus’ character design, though surprisingly edgy, stands out as one of the film’s bold creative choices. The characters in this sequence feel distinct, and it’s one of the few times when Red One truly embraces a unique visual style.
Familiar Performances and Underused Characters
In Red One, Johnson plays a character similar to those he has portrayed in previous action films. He’s the confident and somewhat cocky straight man, which is effective but not particularly memorable.
In movies like Central Intelligence and Jumanji: The Next Level, Johnson leaned into his comedic side, which made those performances stand out. Here, he seems restrained, holding back from fully embracing the goofiness that the movie’s premise might call for.
Chris Evans brings his usual charm to the role of Jack, starting out as a character similar to his role in Knives Out. Evans has spent much of his career playing the noble hero, but he has a knack for playing characters with rough edges.
He embraces the silliness of his character, making Jack both oafish and somewhat endearing. However, it’s hard to ignore the mismatch between his character’s rough demeanor and his physical appearance, which still looks very much like Captain America.
Other characters, unfortunately, receive far less development. Lucy Liu’s character, Zoe, spends most of her time delivering exposition in the background. Kiernan Shipka, who plays Grýla, the villain, seems miscast in the role. Her character supposedly has a complex backstory, but the movie gives little insight into her motivations.
J.K. Simmons, meanwhile, is perfectly cast as a tougher, more rugged Santa Claus. However, after the first twenty minutes, his character takes a back seat to the action, leaving Simmons with limited screen time.
Red One: A Mixed Bag for the Holidays
Red One is not an awful movie, but it’s not a must-see either. For those looking for a holiday film to watch in theaters, it might be worth the trip, especially for fans of Johnson and Evans. But waiting for it to arrive on Prime Video may be the better option.
The film does manage to deliver some Christmas spirit, even if it’s not the kind of spirit that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
While Red One isn’t a complete flop, it doesn’t quite justify its massive $200 million budget. The film is entertaining in parts, but it doesn’t offer anything particularly groundbreaking or memorable. It’s a holiday movie that tries to pack in too many elements—myth-building, humor, action, and nostalgia—and ends up spreading itself too thin.
Despite its flaws, Red One is a lighthearted watch that may provide a brief holiday escape. It’s a movie that brings together an A-list cast, a hefty budget, and a festive theme. Whether or not it lives up to its potential, Red One offers a blend of holiday cheer, action, and some laugh-worthy moments that may entertain those who are simply looking for a new Christmas movie to try.
Red One is set to release in theaters across the United States on November 15, bringing a unique mix of Christmas magic, action-packed sequences, and a few laughs to audiences just in time for the holidays.
