As the holiday season approaches, Christmas-themed movies have emerged. “Red One” follows Santa Claus, referred to as the Red One, being kidnapped. The North Pole falls into a dilemma when they fail to locate him, as Christmas is approaching. Saving the holiday falls into the hands of Jack, known as the best tracker in the world, and Callum, a North Pole bodyguard.
“Red One” was exclusively released in theaters on Nov. 15, and is directed by Jake Kasdan, the directors for “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)” and “Jumanji: The Next Level (2019).” The movie is a comedic-action holiday blockbuster that mixes superhero action with the Christmas spirit.
COMEDIC ACTION DUO
The movie stars two well-known action actors: Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Chris Evans. Johnson is an American actor, professional wrestler and businessman known for his roles in the series “The Fast and the Furious” and “Jumanji” as well as many other action and comedic movies. Chris Evans is an American actor, producer and director known for his role in the Marvel universe as Captain America.
As Callum and Jack search for Santa, more of their internal struggles are reflected. At the end of the day, they may have a strong and tough exterior, but they still face struggles and get lost in life. This reflects modern society; it encourages viewers to give life one more chance and to not dwell on what mistakes happen in the past but on what changes they can make to better themselves today.
MODERN TAKE
One of the fascinating things about the movie is how the folklore of Santa Claus is the image of Father Christmas himself. In contrast to the typical jolly old man with a red suit sitting down and hearing children’s wishes, he was portrayed in the movie as a buff man who trains regularly to make sure that the presents are delivered on time. Although the film shows how ‘Red’ truly cares for the children and while many of them end up on the naughty list, he believes that they deserve a chance to be seen as good.
The movie also shows how Callum lost hope for humanity and believed that there would be no change in the wicked ways of adults. In the movie, Callum mentions, “I love the kids, it’s the adults that are killing me.” When one’s kindness is abused, people tend to get tired of doing good deeds.
CAMARADERIE
The film subtly shows how working together makes the job easier because each individual has their own strengths and weaknesses. Even the world leaders coordinate with the North Pole to ensure that Christmas reaches everyone, something that the real world can only wish for. “Red One” also shows that no matter where someone comes from or what their race is, they deserve to be happy like everyone else.
BEYOND THE SCREEN
“Red One” succeeded in capturing the chaos, good and bad, before and during the holiday season. The frustration of searching for gifts, trying to get the latest version of a toy or even just figuring out what to gift to one’s beloved – many can surely relate.
The movie is a fun diversion from the typical Christmas stories as they incorporate playful elements in the movie, which made it unique in its own way. However, this did not align with some viewers. An article from The Seattle Times said, “Who, exactly, put a Marvel-ized Santa on their wishlist. […] presumably to satisfy those who have pined for a Christmas movie but with, you know, more military industrial complex.”
As a Marvel fan, it was thrilling to see Chris Evans in action again after the death of Captain America. “Red One” has a refreshing view, however, some viewers commented that the film “lacks the heart” of a typical holiday movie, which led to disappointment amongst some viewers.
An article from USA Today, written by Brian Truitt, said, “Red One offers a busy landscape of plastic action figures come to life, visually appealing and plenty colorful, though as hard as it tries, the movie doesn’t deliver the joy and emotion you’d want in a seasonal treat.”
ENTERTAINMENT
Overall, “Red One” is a high-speed comedic-action film with a dash of Christmas spirit. It is not a typical Christmas movie to watch so it is not recommended if you are looking for traditional holiday movies. However, if you are looking for fun, light entertainment to watch with the family, especially with kids, this season, “Red One” is worth watching. If the viewers read between the lines, viewers might find more meaning than what meets the eye.
