Red One Will Remind You of Other, Better Movies

As a seasoned viewer with a soft spot for holiday movies and an even softer spot for action-comedies, I must say that my experience watching Red One was akin to receiving a pair of socks on Christmas morning – functional, but not particularly exciting.

In the movie “Red One“, several questions remain unanswered, but the most intriguing one is: Is The Rock’s character, Callum Drift, an elf or not? Although his organization, ELF (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification), is similar to the Secret Service at the North Pole, it doesn’t clarify whether Callum is human. He’s old beyond measure, fights by shrinking himself down to around half his normal size, and this ability seems to support the idea that he might be an elf. However, if the film intends a humorous twist by portraying Dwayne Johnson as an unexpectedly muscular Santa’s helper, it fails to fully develop this concept. It appears that the movie merely hints at this idea, perhaps due to Will Ferrell’s “Elf” preceding it and setting a high bar for holiday-themed comedies. The film was written by Chris Morgan of the “Fast & Furious” franchise and directed by Jake Kasdan, and it seems to be filled with ideas that mirror better movies without fully realizing or executing them.

If “Red One” were a catastrophe, it would have been more intriguing. Instead, it’s a technically acceptable action-comedy that feels like a hodgepodge of scenes from other movies. The portrayal of Santa, played by J.K. Simmons in an overly muscular fashion, resembles the one seen in “Rise of the Guardians.” The high-tech military approach to gift delivery reminds one of “Arthur Christmas.” There’s a polar bear character borrowed from “His Dark Materials,” and a government agency (MORA, or Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) that seems to have been lifted from “Hellboy.” The fight choreography recalls a less exaggerated version of “Ant-Man.” The relationship between the characters Callum and Jack O’Malley (played by Chris Evans) is reminiscent of the classic buddy cop dynamic, where a gruff Callum gradually grows fond of the criminal he’s partnered with after Santa gets kidnapped two days before Christmas. Johnson and Evans slip into these roles effortlessly, sometimes seeming as if they were simply sleeping through their performances as they argue and fight their way through various locations in pursuit of the kidnapped Santa.

The essence lies with “Red One”, seemingly designed to play repetitively on cable, if that were still an option. It’s a fresh movie, crafted to evoke a sense of deja vu, perhaps similar to “Jingle All the Way”, if instead of its villain being a Christmas goon, it featured a Yule witch portrayed by Kiernan Shipka. The only shocking aspect is that it’s rumored to have cost $250 million, with tales of its turbulent production, even involving A-list urine, humorously shared by The Wrap. However, the grandness of this sum is scarcely reflected on screen, stirring longing for the era when inflated budgets were due to scenes involving large numbers of extras or sets constructed according to a director’s elaborate vision. “Red One” swiftly transitions from Philadelphia to Aruba, Bavaria, and the Arctic, but lacks a sense of location. The North Pole appears as a confused blend of antiquated structures and modern skyscrapers that could only be computer-generated. There’s a scarcity of establishing shots when our protagonists mysteriously travel halfway across the globe via portals connecting the world’s toy stores, creating an illusion they’re merely wandering a movie set.

Evans effectively portrays a compulsive gambler, deadbeat dad with a golden heart, displaying witty banter and an effortless redemption. However, the main concern lies with Johnson, who was once a promising leading actor, capable of embodying unexpected sensitivity. Unfortunately, as he gains more control over his projects, Johnson’s on-screen presence has become less engaging, often playing stoic, unyielding characters. In comparison to other recent roles, the only distinguishing factor in Callum is that his Under Armour shirt features muted Christmas colors. The most disheartening aspect is that there’s a moment reminiscent of Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson’s leap off a building in “The Other Guys” (2010), which ended tragically, but in “Red One,” Johnson repeats this action without irony, engaging in a rooftop chase sequence. It seems that self-deprecation is no longer a part of Johnson’s career trajectory.

2024-11-06 08:54

Red One Will Remind You of Other, Better Movies

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