Red One (2024) emerges as an early family-oriented film infused with a festive Christmas theme. Featuring Chris Evans and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the movie promises a blend of humor and action that is likely to appeal to audiences of all ages. It constructs an engaging mythological universe populated by figures from Christmas folklore. While many are familiar with Saint Nicholas (commonly known as Santa Claus), the film also introduces lesser-known characters such as Krampus and Gryla.
This film exemplifies a cinematic experience that feels somewhat artificial—not due to its extraordinary production quality, but rather because it lacks a genuine essence that conveys meaningful intent. This approach has been characteristic of Dwayne Johnson’s recent projects, contributing to his successful business ventures, albeit with some instability. This film appears to be an effort by Johnson to capture audience interest during the holiday season.
The narrative transitions from one elaborate set piece to another in a grand adventure that seems entirely fabricated within a studio, further emphasizing the film’s artificiality in every frame. Given the reported budget of $250 million, it is somewhat disheartening to consider that such a substantial investment has resulted in a product that lacks depth, despite the professionalism exhibited by the cast and crew.
Red One Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Chris Evans, Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, and J.K. Simmons
Director: Jake Kasdan
Language: English (with subtitles)
Available On: Prime Video
Runtime: 124 Minutes
Watch or Not?: This film may only be worth viewing for ardent fans of Chris Evans or Dwayne Johnson; otherwise, there are superior Christmas films available.