Red one review | Red one cast & review | Red one movie review 2024

Red One (2024) Review: A Big-Budget Christmas Adventure That Misses the Mark

red one review 2024
Red One Review

Introduction

First of all, apologies for getting this review to you a bit late—I was out of town. It's important to try new things, go to events, and break free from the norm once in a while. That might mean a delayed review, but now, let's focus on the film that is supposedly saving Christmas, brought to us by the guy who "killed Shazam"—not the character, but the franchise. Let’s get into it

Red One Trailer


Plot Summary

In Red One, Santa Claus (codename: Red One), played by J.K. Simmons, is kidnapped just one day before Christmas Eve. His head of security, played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, must team up with a hustler, played by Chris Evans, to track him down and save Christmas. On paper, this sounds like an exciting, fun holiday adventure.

A Divisive Movie

This is one of those films that clearly divides critics and audiences. At the start, I was actually intrigued—I liked what I was seeing. The North Pole scenes, with J.K. Simmons as Santa, bring in that much-needed Christmas spirit and nostalgia. The movie even throws in some heartfelt moments about how, for the first time in history, more people are on the naughty list than the nice list—something we can all relate to. These moments hint at the potential for a '90s throwback Christmas movie, full of festive joy and classic adventure.

The Rock Show

However, as the movie progresses, it becomes clear that Red One is "The Rock Show." Johnson plays the same character he always does—a tough, charismatic action hero. What could have been a unique Christmas movie quickly turns into a standard missing-person action flick, except the missing person happens to be Santa Claus. Alongside Chris Evans, the film attempts a buddy-comedy dynamic, but it doesn’t quite land.

A Bloated Budget and Cameo Overload

One of the most shocking aspects of this film is its insane budget—$250 million. For comparison, Elf was made for $33 million, and Ernest Saves Christmas cost only $6.5 million. While inflation plays a role, a quarter-billion dollars for Red One is absurd.

It’s clear where the money went: big-name actors, elaborate action sequences, and, of course, an overload of cameos. This film feels more like a superhero movie in disguise, constantly relying on surprise appearances and "key jangling" moments that don't add much to the story.

A Miscast Villain

Kiernan Shipka, whom I’ve enjoyed in other roles, is completely miscast as the film’s villain. She seems to be the only one leaning into the ‘90s cheesy action vibe that this movie should have fully embraced. Unfortunately, the rest of the film doesn’t follow suit, making her performance feel out of place—almost like a Power Rangers villain who wandered onto the wrong set. Some other performances also feel oddly over-the-top, which adds to the film’s overall identity crisis.

A Genre Confused Movie

One of Red One’s biggest issues is that it doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. It’s an action-comedy that isn’t particularly funny and a Christmas movie that doesn’t really feel like Christmas. The lack of a clear genre hurts the overall experience, making it hard to engage with the film in the way the filmmakers likely intended.

Too Long and Forgettable

At 2 hours and 3 minutes, the movie is simply too long. A Christmas adventure like this should aim for a tight, fun 90-minute runtime. Instead, it drags in places, making it easy to lose interest. The film is ultimately forgettable—by the time I finished writing this review, I had already started to forget about it.

If you’re looking for a movie with a similar dynamic between a tough guy and a not-so-tough guy working together, Live Free or Die Hard did it way better.

Final Thoughts

Red One is a massive-budget holiday spectacle that ultimately fails to capture the Christmas magic it promises. While it has a few fun moments—particularly in the North Pole scenes—its confused genre, excessive runtime, and reliance on big names and cameos make it a forgettable experience. If you’re in the mood for a classic Christmas adventure, you’re better off rewatching Elf or Home Alone.

Summery

Red One attempts to be a fun holiday adventure but ends up a forgettable, bloated action-comedy. Starring J.K. Simmons as Santa and Dwayne Johnson as his head of security, the film follows a rescue mission alongside Chris Evans. While the North Pole scenes capture festive spirit, the movie quickly turns into a generic action flick. Its staggering $250 million budget is wasted on excessive cameos and miscast roles, including Kiernan Shipka as the villain. At over two hours, it overstays its welcome and lacks clear genre direction. Ultimately, Red One fails to deliver Christmas magic, making it easily skippable.

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