The holiday movie season is just around the corner, and one of the most anticipated new releases is “Red One,” a high-octane Christmas action-adventure starring two of Hollywood’s biggest stars—Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Chris Evans.
Directed by Jake Kasdan, the film follows Johnson’s character Callum Drift, the head of security at the North Pole, who teams up with bounty hunter Jack O’Malley (Evans) to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons). The trailers have promised a wild, over-the-top ride filled with explosive action and plenty of holiday cheer.
However, now that early screenings of “Red One” have taken place, the reviews are decidedly mixed, leaving some critics wondering if this $250 million Christmas blockbuster will end up on the “naughty” or “nice” list this year.
Not Feeling The Holiday Spirit
Critics have not held back in their disdain for “Red One.” Film pundit Matt Neglia went so far as to say he’s putting the movie “on the naughty list for 2024,” calling it “unfunny and visually repulsive” with action that “lacks excitement & entertainment.”
Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon.net was even harsher, describing the film as “one of the most ridiculous Christmas movies I’ve ever seen.” He criticized director Kasdan for helming the “outrageous premise like a very serious action thriller,” leaving the movie looking “cheap-looking at times.”
Echoing those sentiments, Peter Gray of The AU Review said he was “obviously” a fan of Johnson, but the movie “sadly misses the mark on spreading festive fun.” He felt it had “no idea who it wants to cater for.”
A Surprising Dose Of Holiday Cheer
However, the reviews are not entirely negative. Some critics found themselves pleasantly surprised by the Christmas spirit and entertainment value of “Red One.”
CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes praised the film as a “holly jolly throwdown that pleasantly surprised me,” comparing the tone to a mashup of “Elf and Silent Night.”
Kristen Maldonado from Pop Culture Planet was equally enthusiastic, describing it as “an action-packed holiday showdown” that introduces mythology and offers “a fresh perspective with mythological characters we don’t often see represented.”
Critic K.E.V.I.N. Fenix went so far as to dub “Red One” as “pure Christmas magic!” He highlighted the “unexpectedly amazing world-building” and a “surprisingly emotional performance by [The Rock].”
The Dwayne Johnson Factor
As with many of his films, Dwayne Johnson’s star power appears to be a key factor in how critics are responding to “Red One.” While some critics were disappointed, others seemed willing to overlook the movie’s flaws due to the charisma of the leading man.
Fenix, for one, noted that Johnson delivered a “genuinely” emotional performance, which helped elevate the overall experience. Likewise, Hunter Bolding admitted that “some holiday cheer came over me” and the film ended up being a “fun romp.”
However, not everyone was as enamored with Johnson’s work. Peter Gray expressed his “obvious desire for [Red One] to offer mild entertainment, yet it unfortunately falls short.”
What’s Next For “Red One”?
With such a divisive critical response, the big question is how “Red One” will fare with general audiences when it hits theaters on November 15. Past Dwayne Johnson blockbusters have sometimes struggled with critics but found success at the box office, so there’s a chance this Christmas caper could follow a similar path.
That said, the film’s reported $250 million budget means it will need to perform exceptionally well to be considered a true hit. We could view anything less than $625 million worldwide (a typical 2.5x multiplier for blockbuster budgets) as a disappointment.
We’ll see if “Red One” makes the “naughty” or “nice” list this holiday season. But one thing is certain: with Johnson and Evans headlining, this is a Christmas movie that’s sure to generate plenty of buzz, for better or worse, in the weeks to come.
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