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Yes, dear readers, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. While Santa Claus hasn’t crossed Herald Square just yet, the movie industry is starting to load its sleigh with holiday themed delights. Depending on how much of a Hallmark Channel fan you are, the middle of November may seem a bit early for a movie like Red One. Luckily, director Jake Kasdan’s saved-from-streaming blockbuster is a cinematic delight that sees Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson landing a buddy cop caper that delivers magic and laughter that doesn’t solely depend on yuletide greetings to entertain.
Red One (2024)
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Directed By: Jake Kasdan
Written By: Chris Morgan
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons
Rating: PG-13 for action, some violence, and language.
Runtime: 122 minutes
The trailers for Red One are cleverly deceptive as to what the full story of the picture entails, but the basic idea is pretty well-served in the marketing. What starts with infamously proficient criminal Jack “The Wolf” O’Malley (Chris Evans) being hired for a random job turns into an all-out battle to save Christmas. That’s thanks to our heel’s latest score leading to Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) being abducted by unknown parties.
With Jack paired up with Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), the head of North Pole security , and aided by Zoe (Lucy Liu), a mythological intelligence expert, the hunt for Red One’s famous hostage is on. And thanks to a script from Fast Saga vet Chris Morgan, the ensuing action gleefully crosses between the worlds of reality and holiday mythology with a rather nimble sense of humor and heart.
Families have a holiday buddy cop movie to share with Red One.
After seeing Red One, the phrase “Santa’s Lethal Weapon” comes to mind, as Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans act like the perfect buddy cop team. Johnson’s stoicism balances Evans’ cynical outsider perspective, allowing these blockbuster veterans to play off of each other in a way that must have Shane Black either be tipping his hat or cursing himself for not thinking of this concept first.
One of this picture’s greatest surprises has to be the development of Evans’ Jack O’Malley. While he’s your typical Grinch-y anti-hero, complete with the prerequisite holiday trauma and less than perfect fathering skills, the actor executes his character with scalpel-like precision. Through the course of a scene that happens late in the second act, you can pinpoint a pivotal moment in Jack’s arc, thanks to the Captain America vets’ skills at work.
But this is a Santa movie, and Red One absolutely delivers in that regard. Casting J.K. Simmons for his second spin the role after Netflix’s Klaus, the live-action debut of Simmons’ Santa stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats. The seriously stacked deck of performers in this production gels together like milk and cookies.
Red One pleasantly surprises with actual edge for a PG-13 movie and some fantastic world building.
A problem with the holiday movie market is the fact that, for the most part, the subgenre is preoccupied with either schmaltzy romance or uber emotional shenanigans that are safe for a school teacher to show in lieu of classes. While Red One does have its emotional “spirit of Christmas” moments, it never becomes a totally warm and fuzzy holiday story. There are plenty of PG-13 profanities and action that make this new offering into the cinematic Christmas canon feel more at home in the 1980s.
It’s because of this surprising edge that I feel Red One is about to become a favorite with young adults and parents alike. Not only is it hard to create a memorable holiday movie, it’s difficult to balance the inherent joy and pageantry of the season with a clever story. Playing towards the segment of the audience that’s growing out of most of the kids stuff, this could be the first non-traditional holiday blockbuster we’ve had in some time.
Praise must once again be given to Chris Morgan’s script, which came from a story concept originating with Red One producer Hiram Garcia. As the Seven Bucks Productions stalwart wanted to create “a kick-ass Christmas movie,” action and emotion are complimented by some seriously intriguing world building.
Through Lucy Liu’s character, the head of an intelligence agency that handles mythological beings of all holidays, Red One opens the door to a potential cinematic universe. While I’d typically fear seeing those words being used to describe most burgeoning franchise, the approach that this picture takes towards that goal is one that teases the audience into wanting to see more on either side of the divide. It also helps that the cast of colorful characters includes a shady arms dealer played by Nick Kroll and Kristofer Hivju’s Krampus in the fold, as they represent some prime opportunities for such expansion.
It’s hard to make a rewatchable holiday movie, and Red One might be the latest title to pull it off.
No matter what your personal belief system may be, Red One speaks to having faith in people, even at our most world weary. While Jake Kasdan’s film does use the Christmas season as its delivery device, the lessons presented are universal. And even if you want to totally discard the moral compass that sits at the heart of this cinematic thrill ride, you can enjoy the smatterings of action sequences and jokes that keep things moving.
One final secret weapon that Red One uses in its crowd pleasing arsenal is its musical score from composer Henry Jackman. Walking the tonal tightrope that is this film’s bouquet of genre infused influences, you get everything from slinky heist melodies to full blown Christmas magic. There’s even a recurring theme that sounds like a close cousin to John Williams’ Jurassic Park theme, conveying majesty and spectacle that could easily fill your heart with joy.
However, as someone who loves to revisit a selection of holiday movies that I consider among the most entertaining, I’m starting to think Red One may be one of the latest additions to those ranks. It never comes off as an overthought or overproduced project that was made to check a box or appeal to a very specific audience.
The enthusiasm that’s on display throughout Red One is infectious enough that you just might find yourself getting a bit emotional in the process. And if that’s not what the most effective holiday movies are meant to do, then maybe it’s time we rethink the whole thing. If you like your cocoa with a nip of the hard stuff, then get ready to let Red One take you on a sleigh ride that’ll get you ready to dive into Christmas. Or, at the very least, another viewing of Lethal Weapon.