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