‘Red One’ is the ‘Marvelization’ of Holiday Movies

Red One

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — In “Red One,” Dwayne Johnson stars as Callum Drift, a top security guard for none other than Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), or “Red.” As more people get on the naughty list, Callum is losing the Christmas spirit and looking to retire. But, when a mysterious force kidnaps Red, Callum will have to stage a rescue mission with a “Stage-4 naughty lister” Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) to save Santa and Christmas.

O’Malley is on the naughty list mostly for being a bad father. We’re introduced to him literally taking candy from a baby to emphasize just how dastardly he is. But O’Malley knows where to find Red, so this team-up leads to some funny banter between O’Malley and Callum who is going through his own crisis of faith.

“Red One” is jam-packed with holiday action sequences featuring abominable snowmen, an incredibly well-realized Krampus, and Marvel-esque caricatures that feel stale, and uninventive. Don’t get me wrong, I love superhero films, but I also appreciate originality.

The strongest bit of originality comes when O’Malley and Callum have to visit Krampus in his castle full of adorning mythical creatures. I loved the creature designs. The make-up and practical work on display are very high quality, and it’s the most entertaining part of the film.

The weakest moments in “Red One” come when it takes things too seriously and reverts to a genre that currently is experiencing extremes of both good and bad attempts. Dwayne Johnson should know this better than most with his experience and the reception from his previous dip into superhero films, “Black Adam”.

I truly hope that Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming A24 film “The Smashing Machine” reveals another layer of acting from him, because sadly he has played this same type of character for so long now, and in so many movies, that he has become an imitation of himself.

Chris Evans has no reason to be in this, but the film is better for it. I thought he played a believable oaf of a father, and he brings most of the jokes that land only due to his charismatic delivery.

Lucy Liu, who plays the “Nick Fury” role as head of the defense force Callum is working for, is only in it for exposition and a final battle in the end. For the most part, “Red One” is quite the boys club, sidelining what could’ve been interesting characters like Mrs. Claus and O’Malley’s ex-wife. Instead, we get played-out stereotypes of the nagging ex that were old back when Tim Allen dawned the red suit.

I can’t forget to mention J.K. Simmons as jacked Santa. He was who I wanted to see the most in this film, which is why I am so frustrated with how little he is seen or utilized. In the beginning and end, he’s great. I admired how the film tried to accurately show how Santa can get to every house in one night, and going house-to-house on the same street no less!

Overall, this will be great to play in the background during the holidays. The kids will enjoy the action scenes but may feel the rest is a bit sluggish. Not one to make my yearly Holiday film rotation, and not one I could recommend you check out in theaters.

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