By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"Red One," the Christmas fantasy adventure from director
Jake Kasdan (TV's "American Born Chinese"), offers a festive blend of holiday cheer and action-packed thrills—but it's not without its share of ho, ho, hum moments. While the film delivers plenty of excitement, at times, its overstuffed plot becomes a bit tedious.
Fortunately, the star-studded cast—Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, J.K. Simmons, Lucy Liu, and Bonnie Hunt—gives this high-energy, oddball comedy its wings.
The chemistry between the actors and their comedic timing helps make it work. By the end, its heartwarming holiday message shines through.
The story centers on young Jack 'O' Malley (Wyatt Hunt, "Best. Christmas. Ever!"), a Grinch-like child who actively rejects the joy of the season. Jack does everything in his power to ruin Christmas for his family, even when his well-meaning Uncle Rick (Mark Evan Jackson, "Transformers: Earthspark") tries to convince him that Christmas is a magical time, and that Santa Claus is real. But Jack remains resolutely jaded, growing up into an even more cynical adult.
Fast-forward to adulthood, and Jack (now played by Chris Evans, "Deadpool & Wolverine") is known as "Jack "The Wolf" O'Malley, a hacker and bounty hunter with a reputation for being ruthless.
His unique set of skills make him a sought-after operative, but when he inadvertently leaks Santa's secret address to a dangerous figure—Gryla, the Christmas Witch (Kiernan Shipka, Twisters)—everything changes. Gryla has a sinister agenda for those on Santa's naughty list, and her plan to kidnap Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons, "Juror #2") threatens to shatter the very spirit of Christmas.
Santa is far from helpless. He's been hitting the gym at his tony North Pole compound, prepping for action with his loyal right-hand man, Callum Drift (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, TV's "WWE Raw"). Callum leads the North Pole's elite security team, ELF (Enforcement Logistics and Fortification), working alongside ELF Agent Garcia (Reinaldo Faberlle, TV's "Mayor of Kingstown"), a towering anthropomorphic polar bear. Callum also answers to the tough-as-nails Commander Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu, "Old Guy"), who oversees the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority.
Poor Callum. The guy was set on retiring. He was sick of the endless chaos of holiday season antics—fights between parents over presents, peppermint stick thefts, and a general lack of respect for the season's meaning. But when news breaks that Santa has been kidnapped, Callum drops his retirement plans and heads out to rescue the jolly old man himself.
Since the stakes are high, Callum forcibly enlists Jack to help find Santa. Their search leads them to Santa's adopted brother, Krampus (Kristofer Hivju, TV’s "Twilight of the Gods"), and eventually to Aruba, where a series of bizarre events unfold. While this sequence is entertaining, it goes on a bit longer than necessary and slows down the pace.
Still, Callum and his crew are armed with an arsenal of cool gadgets, airships, snowmobiles, and even the ability to turn toy Hot Wheels into the real deal making the action scenes lively and fun.
A touching subplot involving Jack and his young son, Dylan (Wesley Kimmel, TV's "The Mandalorian"), adds a nice emotional layer to the film. As Jack slowly comes to terms with his own cynicism and reconnects with the spirit of Christmas, the movie brings everything together in a feel-good finale that, while predictable, delivers the warmth and cheer we all expect from a holiday movie.
"Red One" may not be your typical Christmas movie, but it is a jolly good ride that's full of heart, humor, and holiday magic.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"RED ONE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Critics Choice Association, The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
