Red One

There’s no doubt that Red One is definitely better off for being a ‘Christmas film.’

That descriptor has its limitations as well as its benefits. Sure, often there’s only one period of the year where you’d watch these films but there’s also the potential to watch them EVERY year if they stick with you. Also, the seasonal goodwill can often gloss over some more obvious cinematic defects.

The idea of a generic, Rock-starring action movie (with [sigh] ‘franchise potential’) themed around Christmas is a good one. The reality? It’s certainly better than it would be without the holiday touch but, whisper it, isn’t actually that Christmassy.

Mercifully, the plot is nice and simple. Santa gets kidnapped on Christmas eve and his head of security and a tracker-for-hire (who, of course, is on the naughty list and generally doesn’t have the ‘Christmas spirit’) are tasked with finding him.

There’s a little bit of fantasy stuff around this and every other sentence is delivered in unnecessary ‘exposition speak’ (so many acronyms to explain) but it just about gets away with it.

Everyone here has an idea of exactly the type of movie they’re in and it works. Dwayne Johnson has these roles nailed now but doesn’t coast (despite the tabloid reports of lateness etc.) It’s one of those where his deadpan delivery suits the character and plays off nicely with Chris Evans’ snarky, deadbeat mercenary.

Continuing his line of ‘anti-Captain America’ roles, he’s brilliantly ‘naughty’ initially (literally stealing candy from a baby at one stage) before selling the inevitable redemption arc well.

Make no mistake, you will know exactly what is going to happen and when in this movie but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s an easy one to have on in the background whilst unwrapping presents or falling asleep after Christmas dinner.

Is that what we want from a film of this type though? It might hit its action beats well enough, contain a couple of chuckles, some knowing performances and a condensed enough story but there’s something of the ‘Christmas magic’ missing.

The fantastical elements look fine enough but its muted, 'action movie' colour palette render it pretty dull when stacked next to its Christmas movie cousins. Also, a smattering of swears in the script confuse the point its trying to make. Is this a family Christmas film or an action movie that's trying to sneak a Christmas message in?

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Die Hard reference is all you’ll really get in regards to Easter Eggs and is there a ‘shared universe’ to be had here, really? Krampus, Gryla and the Headless Horseman just don’t feel like household names and the film creaks a little when shoehorning in this attempt at a wider narrative, a bit like Netflix flop Bright before it.

So it’s a serviceable action film that benefits from its Christmas twist, despite not actually feeling very Christmassy at all. Drab visuals and an attempt to wrestle with potential future spin offs/sequels undercut any goodwill that it does contain.

Not one to add to the yearly watchlist.

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