- RED ONE
- Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans and J.K. Simmons
- Directed by: Jake Kasdan
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 2 hrs 3 mins
- Amazon/MGM Studios
Our score 3.5 out of 5
With the holiday’s approaching, many of us are already preparing for the upcoming festivities. That includes a certain gentleman named Nicholas who lives at the North Pole. But he can’t do it alone. Meet Cal Drift (Johnson), Santa’s head of security. He’s about to retire after several centuries on the job but he’s staying around for one more sleigh ride, one he will never forget.
There aren’t a lot of Christmas-themed action films. There’s “Die Hard” and there’s, well, “Die Hard.” “Red One” – Santa’s code name – is no “Die Hard,” but it is an entertaining two hours of fun. The film begins in the mid 199os, where a family gathering introduces us to young Jack O’Malley (Wyatt Hunt), a boy who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, quite possibly because he is sure to have been on the infamous “naughty” list. Jump ahead to today and we learn that the adult Jack (Evans) is still a rotten person who actually DOES take candy from a baby. Jack is known in certain unsavory crowds as the “Wolf,” a con man who can get you almost anything you want. His current client is looking for Santa (Simmons) and his secrets. When the big man is kidnapped Jack and Cal form an unlikely team to save him.
The film’s believability rests solely on the shoulders of the cast, who all give fine performances. Johnson has continued to grow as an actor and he has an uncanny ability to appear both tough and tender at the same time. Evans, as a father who has kept himself out of his young son’s life, is also well cast. Simmons, one of the greatest character actors ever, is also solid, giving what could have been a very routine role some emotional depth. Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus and Lucy Liu as the Director of the security agency. Special mention to Kristofer Hivju, who steals scenes as the fun-loving, not evil, Krampus.
The effects are well done and the action set pieces well crafted. Not sure how many little ones will enjoy this – some of the humor is a little over their heads – but kids love Christmas. Except for young Jack O’Malley that is.
Overall, I recommend you get in your sleigh and head out over the river and through the woods to see “Red One.”
On a scale of zero to five I give “Red One” ★★★1/2