Red One movie review: With the festive season upon us, Red One (2024) enters the scene as an ambitious holiday offering. Directed by Jake Kasdan and starring heavyweights like Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, and J.K. Simmons, the movie promised a unique blend of action, adventure, and holiday cheer. However, despite a whopping $250 million budget and a star-studded cast, Red One falls short of becoming the Christmas classic it so desperately tries to be.
The film’s premise—a world where mythical creatures exist in harmony with humans, and Santa Claus is a mission-driven, action-ready figure—sounds intriguing. But the execution lacks the charm, excitement, and coherence needed to deliver on that promise. What could have been a heartwarming and thrilling holiday adventure ends up as a dull, visually chaotic, and tonally inconsistent movie.
Red One movie review
At its core, Red One follows the story of Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a cynical bounty hunter who can locate anything. Jack’s professional and personal lives are in shambles, with a strained relationship with his young son and a career driven by self-interest. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is recruited by Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), Santa Claus’ head of security, to help rescue the kidnapped Saint Nick (J.K. Simmons).
The kidnapping of Santa is orchestrated by Gryla (Kiernan Shipka), a mythical winter witch who plans to disrupt Christmas by harnessing Santa’s magical powers. Alongside Drift and Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), head of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (M.O.R.A.), Jack embarks on a perilous mission through a world filled with mythological creatures, including Santa’s estranged brother, Krampus (Kristofer Hivju).
While the premise brims with potential, the film falters in its storytelling. The plot feels like a patchwork of ideas that never fully coalesce. Emotional subplots, such as Jack’s journey toward becoming a better father, feel shallow and unearned. Similarly, the intriguing mythology of M.O.R.A. and its role in maintaining peace between humans and mythical creatures is barely explored. These missed opportunities result in a story that feels both overcrowded and underdeveloped.
Jake Kasdan, known for his work on the Jumanji franchise, struggles to find a consistent tone for Red One. The movie oscillates between being a tongue-in-cheek action comedy and a heartfelt Christmas tale, ultimately excelling at neither.
The pacing is another significant issue. Despite its action-oriented premise, Red One drags, particularly in its second half. Key sequences, such as a showdown at Krampus’ castle, overstay their welcome, while the climactic rescue mission lacks urgency and excitement. The tonal inconsistencies further hinder the film, with forced humor and half-baked emotional moments undercutting its more serious themes.
For a film with such a staggering budget, Red One is shockingly underwhelming in its visuals. Much of the movie takes place in poorly lit, snow-covered environments that are murky and difficult to follow. The North Pole, which should have been a dazzling spectacle, comes across as bland and uninspired.
The CGI is another glaring issue. From awkwardly animated snowmen to artificial backdrops, the special effects feel rushed and unpolished. A sequence set at a beach resort, featuring a surprise attack by digital snowmen, stands out as particularly egregious. The lack of visual coherence detracts from the movie’s intended sense of wonder and adventure.
One of Red One’s biggest flaws is its inability to evoke genuine emotion. The movie attempts to explore themes of redemption, family, and the importance of Christmas spirit, but these elements are executed with little sincerity or nuance. Jack’s relationship with his son is reduced to a handful of cliched interactions, while Drift’s supposed journey toward regaining his faith in humanity feels forced and unconvincing.
The humor, which should have been a saving grace, falls flat. Many jokes feel out of place, and even comic talents like Nick Kroll fail to deliver memorable moments. As a result, Red One struggles to engage its audience, leaving both its emotional and comedic elements underwhelming.
The film introduces a fascinating world where mythical creatures coexist with humans under the watchful eye of M.O.R.A. Santa’s North Pole headquarters, protected by advanced technology, offers a unique blend of magic and modernity. However, these creative ideas are barely explored, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The lack of world-building is a missed opportunity, as deeper exploration of this universe could have added much-needed depth to the story.
Red One (2024) had all the ingredients for a holiday blockbuster but fails to deliver on its promise. Its intriguing premise is overshadowed by poor execution, uneven tone, and lackluster visuals. While J.K. Simmons shines as a reimagined Santa Claus, his performance is not enough to salvage a film plagued by wasted potential.
For a movie with a $250 million budget, Red One feels surprisingly cheap and uninspired. Its attempts to balance action, humor, and holiday sentiment result in a muddled and forgettable experience. While it may find some appeal as background entertainment during the holiday season, Red One is unlikely to become the Christmas classic it aspires to be.
The Cast
Despite the film’s shortcomings, the cast delivers varying levels of engagement:
- Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift: Johnson’s performance lacks the self-deprecating humor and charisma that have defined his best roles. Instead, he portrays Drift as overly serious, resulting in a monotonous character.
- Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley: Evans attempts to break away from his Captain America image by playing a jaded, sarcastic bounty hunter. However, his portrayal lacks depth, and the character’s arc feels predictable and uninspired.
- J.K. Simmons as Santa Claus: Simmons is the film’s standout performer, offering a fresh take on the iconic character. His Santa is wiry, disciplined, and surprisingly relatable, delivering moments of warmth and charm. Unfortunately, his limited screen time diminishes his impact on the story.
- Lucy Liu and Kiernan Shipka: Liu brings some energy to her role as M.O.R.A.’s leader but is ultimately underutilized. Shipka, as the villain Gryla, fails to bring menace or complexity to her character, resulting in a forgettable antagonist.
- Kristofer Hivju as Krampus: Hivju’s performance under heavy prosthetics is entertaining, but his extended sequence feels like unnecessary filler.
Even talented actors like Bonnie Hunt and Nick Kroll are given little to work with, highlighting the film’s inability to capitalize on its ensemble cast.
Conclusion
In the end, Red One is the cinematic equivalent of a disappointing gift under the tree—exciting on the surface but ultimately lacking in substance. Packed with potential but devoid of heart, it’s a movie best left on the Naughty List.
Top 5 Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
If it would just settle down for a few minutes, it might identify its spirit, but it’s too busy trying to be all things to all people to just be its own thing – Adam Graham, Detroit News
With Twisters’ Kiernan Shipka’s role woefully underwritten and “The Rock” stubbornly refusing to deliver anything approaching any kind of charm, watching Red One can sometimes be a hard place for adults to be – James Croot, Stuff.co.nz
The kids will like all the action, but Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans fail to establish much chemistry in this sour holiday tale. As it turns out, J.K. Simmons gets a lucky break. He gets to sleep through most of this fantasy – Linda and Al Lerner, Movies and Shakers
Overall, I recommend you get in your sleigh and head out over the river and through the woods to see “Red One” – Michael A. Smith, MediaMikes
None of it comes across as authentic. And that’s the biggest problem with “Red One” as a whole. It all feels like a big studio project plucked right off the assembly line. And no amount of star-power or big screen charisma is able to overcome that – Keith Garlington, Keith & the Movies
Top Movie Ratings
| IMDb | 6.9/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 33% |
| Metacritic | 34% |
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