The latest film starring Dwayne Johnson, "Red One," is a holiday epic with a budget totaling $250 million. It also bears the name of his 2021 crime caper, but this action-fantasy-comedy shouldn't be confused with the former. Leaving the streaming road for a wide theatrical release, "Red One" brings a high-concept plot to the year-end cinematic table, with Johnson teaming up with Chris Evans for a yuletide adventure.
The story sees the duo embarking on a global mission to rescue the abducted Santa Claus, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, to ensure Christmas goes off without a hitch. Evans plays an unscrupulous hacker and Johnson, Callum Drift, who's owner of Santa’s protection agency. Adding to the complexities of the plot, Santa's security operations are interrupted by an external tactical unit, leading to a whirlwind rescue mission.
However, despite its star-studded cast and mythology-rich plot, the film fails to conjure up the magical touch expected from a Christmas tale. The reliance on CGI effects overshadows the story, leading to an over-produced and artificial end result. Also, the comedic scenes with Nick Kroll as Ted, failed to add humour to the film, making the experience less enjoyable.
One notable theme in "Red One" is the villains rewarding the Naughty Listers rather than the Nice, an antithesis to the traditional Santa Claus mythos. Jack, played by Evans, is presented as a bad influence on his teenage son Dylan.
Overall, "Red One" is packed with nonsensical action sequences, over-the-top performances, an abundance of CGI, incorporating too much tech and less of the holiday spirit, making it more of a 'Fast & Furious' Christmas. Rather than captivating viewers with the magic of the Yuletide season, it disappoints with its artificiality and lack of human warmth. One could argue that it symbolizes the excessive reliance on digital effects in contemporary cinema, often at the cost of visual storytelling’s heart and soul.
