What’s It About
When a villain kidnaps Santa Claus from the North Pole, an E.L.F. (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative joins forces with the world’s most accomplished tracker to find him and save Christmas.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
“Red One” is a mashup of action adventure with holiday cheer, relating a purposefully over-the-top Christmas tale. J.K. Simmons plays an unconventional Santa, where Christmas magic meets explosive spectacle mixed with lean and deep feeling. Rather than the typical jolly stereotype, his Santa cherishes both children and adults, recognizing the innocent youth within even the most hardened grown-ups. Dwayne Johnson, of course, plays Callum Drift, Santa’s security chief who is considering retirement after serving for centuries. Though he’s usually very charismatic, here, his character is brooding over humanity’s increasing cynicism, noting how the naughty list has outrun the nice list for the first time. This subdued performance feels at odds with Johnson’s natural vibrancy. Things gain momentum when Santa goes missing, and Callum contacts Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a genius hacker known by his alias “The Wolf.”
Even though he is high up on the naughty list, Jack inadvertently helped in the kidnapping of Santa when he sold some geographic coordinates. Evans embraces his role with gusto, playing a morally bankrupt father who steals candy from infants and encourages his son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel) toward mischief. Lucy Liu appears as Zoe, overseer of magical beings, though her role largely consists of issuing stern commands. Gryla (Kiernan Shipka) is the antagonist. She’s an ancient witch determined to use Santa’s powers to punish the world’s wrongdoers. While Shipka brings theatrical energy to the role, the character’s motivations is lacking. Red One shines in its action sequences and special effects. Kasdan crafts visually striking scenes featuring menacing snowmen, a fearsome Krampus (Kristofer Hivju), and an array of magical creatures. The production design emphasizes holiday colors – rich reds, deep greens, and gleaming golds – before unleashing chaos upon these festive backdrops. Chris Morgan embraces absurdity, similar to his work on the Fast and Furious franchise. The plot incorporates elements like a secret polar compound, magical elves, and global adventures. Nick Kroll appears briefly as a criminal intermediary basking in tropical exile, while a talking polar bear warrior (voiced by Reinaldo Faberlle) joins the fantastical ensemble. The humor varies from clever to cringe-worthy, with a running joke about a Wonder Woman action figure and essential oils, but it still has an undercurrent of a message about personal choice and redemption. Although Johnson and Evans don’t have strong chemistry, separately, they deliver entertaining performances – Johnson maintaining deadpan seriousness amid the chaos, while Evans taps into his Massachusetts accent to enhance his antihero charm. At over two hours, “Red One” occasionally meanders, but its polished visual effects and creature designs – both practical and digital – demonstrate careful craftsmanship. The film assumes Christmas is a universal celebration and focuses heavily on materialism, yet succeeds as holiday entertainment for viewers seeking spectacle over sentiment. The weird action-comedy will not be to everyone’s taste, especially not for families looking for orthodox Christmas fare. Its adult language, intense action, and creepy elements may make little ones uneasy. However, for those willing to accept its mesh of tinsel whimsy with explosive action, “Red One” offers up a breezily entertaining seasonal escapism tailor-made for the holidays in annual viewing rotation.
OUR RATING – A NONCONVENTIONAL 7