Is Red One the Ultimate Christmas Movie to Kickstart Your Holiday Season?

Thanks to MoviesMoreFun, I had the chance to attend an early screening of Red One, the new Christmas action-comedy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lucy Liu, Chris Evans, Kiernan Shipka, J.K. Simmons, and a whole host of other familiar faces I didn’t realize would be in the film.

The movie follows Callum Drift (Johnson), who serves as Santa’s (J.K. Simmons) bodyguard. Drift, who has grown cynical and no longer believes in the goodness of people, is on the eve of retiring when disaster strikes—Santa is kidnapped. In a race against time with Christmas just a day away, Drift is enlisted by Zoe (Liu) and her secretive government agency to track down Santa at all costs. This is where Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) comes into the picture. Jack is a top-tier “finder”—someone who tracks down people who are seemingly untraceable. Together, they embark on a wild adventure in a world full of Christmas magic, mythological creatures, and fantastical elements straight out of fairy tales.

The film truly comes to life when it embraces these mythical elements. I had a blast when they introduced Krampus, and there’s a hilarious sequence where Krampus delivers a brutal slap to someone that had the entire theater laughing out loud. This game of Krampuschlap was truly a highlight. The action is fun without ever feeling too over-the-top, and Lucy Liu’s role stood out for me, showing she’s still got that action star energy.

What really surprised me was how well the chemistry between the leads worked. Chris Evans shines in this role, especially with his comedic timing, while Dwayne Johnson plays this unstoppable force with a lot of love to give underneath all that muscle. Although J.K. Simmons doesn’t have much screen time, I have to say, his take on Santa might be one of my favorite renditions of the jolly old man. I would’ve loved to see more of his version of St. Nick.

Not only is this about finding the christmas spirit and your inner kid, but it is also a story about a father reconnecting with their son which becomes the emotional core of this film. The film does a good job of balancing kid-friendly humor and more mature jokes, though I think it could have done a better job deciding who its primary audience is. The marketing around this one was pretty much non-existent—I honestly thought it was going straight to streaming. But I do think families will enjoy this in theaters. 

All in all, I’m a sucker for a fun Christmas movie, and Red One delivered just that. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, action-packed holiday movie to enjoy with your family, or just want to see “Dwanta Claus” kick some ass, this is the one for you. Catch it in theaters now, and I’m giving it 3 Seths out of 5!