You may think that Santa does not need another backstory but by the end of Red One, you're going to be a believer because it delivers one festive good time.
Red One Review
Santa Claus has gotten a glow up over recent years. Gone is the man with a belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly. In his place are men who care about their health and want to look good while sleighing it (sorry it had to be done) up on Christmas Eve. Kurt Russell's Santa watched his carbs and wore a leather jacket, so that J.K. Simmons Nick can look like he is going to be on the next Men's Fitness cover. I know some complain about Santa getting a makeover or a “new” origin story every few years but I'm not one of them. If it's entertaining and brings some joy into the world then I'm here for it. And let's face it, 2024 needs all the help it can get.
Director Jake Kasdan, bringing his Jumanji energy to Christmas, reunites with Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson for an action-packed race to save Santa before Christmas is ruined for everyone all over the world. Red One is a festive blast and a great way to kick off holiday movie season. Even if the special effects don't always work, the heart of the film is the reluctant duo of The Rock and Chris Evans. They play well off each other, with the former playing everything as serious as a heart attack while the latter hams it up every second he gets. And if those two aren't entertaining enough, Kristofer Hivju is an absolute scene-stealer as the giant, slap-happy Krampus. This sleigh ride might be a little chaotic at points but it's overall a good time, with genuine heart, humor, and a disarming sweetness that would even make Scrooge smile.
Callum Drift (Johnson) is the head of E.L.F., the security detail in charge of protecting Santa Claus (Simmons) wherever he goes. A few days before Christmas Eve, Santa is kidnapped from the North Pole by soldiers working for Christmas witch Gryla (Kiernan Shipka). She wants to use Santa to punish everyone on the naughty list. Callum with no way of tracking her down, reluctantly enlists the help of cyber whiz and “Level 4 Naughty Lister” Jack O’Malley ( Evans), who unwittingly helped Gryla find Santa. Together they will deal with deranged snowmen, hellhounds, Krampus (Hivju) and more in a mad dash attempt to find Santa before Christmas is ruined.
Like his recent Jumanji films, Kasdan has crafted an entertaining film for all-ages that packs in big action sequences while also allowing space for the more emotional, heartwarming moments. Callum and Jack are two sides of a coin, both are disenchanted with Christmas but for very different reasons. Callum has lost his faith in humanity not because of the children but because of the increasingly heartless adults in the world. Jack meanwhile never really believed in Santa and the whole schtick to begin with, something we learn in the opening segment that shows a younger version of him revealing the “truth” about Christmas to his cousins. Despite their doubts, Santa is there to counter those arguments, reminding them (and us) why the true meaning of Christmas is so important. It's a familiar beat for a holiday film but it resonates all the same.
Even the idea of naughty vs nice gets some nuance in Red One. It's not as black and white as it has been portrayed in the past. Naughty choices don't mean we are beyond hope. It's never too late to do the right thing, to make a choice to be nice, something that Jack learns alongside his estranged son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel). Whereas Callum already believes this mantra, he learns to give people grace and the truth behind Santa's repeated phrase “we do this for the kids.” Sure the story is predictable, but what holiday film isn't? No one is watching a Christmas movie to have their expectations subverted. No, they are watching it for something that is familiar, feel good, and amusing. Red One checks all the boxes there.
As a longtime fan of The Rock (I'm talking since his original wrestling days), I've seen him corner the market on the tough guy with a sense of humor trope. They aren't always hits, but that never seems to deter him from trying again. Red One might actually be in my top 5 favorite roles for him. In this he is a tough, no nonsense guy. He isn't trying to be funny, meek (like in Jumanji), or even charming. But his straight guy routine is actually hilarious, especially when you listen to him deliver Christmas themed dialogue with the same seriousness of a military general discussing strategies. Then there is Evans who is clearly enjoying being on the naughty list. He's not as villainous as Ransom in Knives Out or as potty-mouthed as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine, but he has zero effs to give unless it involves saving his own skin. Evans leans into the snark of it all, standing in for the audience who may feel cynical themselves about this whole yuletide spirit. He and Johnson have a good chemistry, playing off each other with natural chemistry.
Simmons may get kidnapped, but he makes the most of his time while Santa is free. He doles out fatherly love and wisdom as needed. Lucy Liu's Zoe Harlow is the Nick Fury of the North Pole who takes everything as seriously as Callum. Bonnie Hunt's Mrs. Claus seems like an interesting woman, and if they ever revisit Red One I hope she gets more to do. Shipka is intense as Gryla even if I thought her character design looked like an Avril Lavigne cosplayer. The real scene stealer though is Hivju. In his practical makeup and suit, Hivju gives a larger-than-life performance as the German monster. But he isn't scary, he's amusing and you can't help but smile when he shows up. For fans of Hivju from his Tormund Giantsbane days (like myself) you will equally love that his trope of choice seems to be men (beasts) that appreciate strong women. Again, if this ends up being a franchise, I need more Krampus asap.
Verdict
Ultimately, Red One is a a festive blast and a great way to kick off the holiday moving watching season. It never takes itself too seriously as it traverses well-worn and new ground in the saving Christmas genre. There are plenty of action scenes to keep you engaged and laughs to be had as The Rock gets his butt handed to him by a giant horned goat demon while Chris Evans gasps from the sidelines. Johnson is in his element, bringing the seriousness of his wrestling persona to the snowy world of Christmas while Evans is free to relish in being naughty. The heart of the story is familiar but with additions like Krampus and other mythological lore, it gives it a fresh spin and offers something the family can enjoy together.
Side note: I screened this in 4DX and it was awesome. So if you have the option and the means, I highly recommend it.
Red One is in theaters November 15, 2024. It is rated PG-13 for action, some violence, and language with a runtime of 2 hours 3 minutes.
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