I Thought I’d Hate Red One, But Then I Watched It And Need To Talk About It ASAP

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As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours huddled in the cozy confines of my cinema recliner, I must say that Red One left quite an impression on me. This film is not your typical holiday fare, and I mean that in the best way possible!

Despite the fact that our beloved Mike Reyes recently provided a favorable review for Red One, I can’t help but notice an overwhelming wave of criticism about it across various online platforms.

Despite some people here having praised the film, I must admit that I was quite skeptical about Red One being anything other than a mediocre, money-driven holiday movie. In fact, some critics have included it in their lists of the worst blockbusters this year.

Initially, I wasn’t convinced about the movie, but upon seeing it personally, I was astounded by my affection for it. To put it simply, it has now become one of my preferred holiday movies. Let me explain why.

Oh, and minor spoilers up ahead.

Is It An Action Movie? A Horror Comedy? A Christmas Movie? What Is This?

Typically, when I remark that a film lacks a distinct identity, it’s far from being praiseworthy. This usually signifies that the film struggles to determine the genre it aspires to embody.

This is quite the enigma; I can’t pinpoint its genre, whether it’s an action film disguised as a horror-comedy or a Christmas movie in disguise. Truth be told, I am utterly clueless. Yet, strangely enough, I’m enjoying the mystery this time around.

This movie is quite peculiar, even for a Christmas film! For instance, one moment you’ll find Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (and I must say, this will be a memorable addition to his filmography) engaged in a high-speed chase, and the next, Nick Kroll is under the influence of a mischievous snow witch on a beach, creating an unsettling yet humorous scene.

Moreover, the film seems to shift genres throughout, which is quite intriguing! What’s more, it presents these shifts within an unexpected yet heartwarming narrative centered around renewing holiday spirit.

I must admit, it’s been a while since I saw a movie as dramatically tonally varied as Parasite, and that’s one of my top films ever! Essentially, this movie is quite eclectic, yet wonderfully so!

Dwayne Johnson And Chris Evans Make For A Much Better Team Than I Ever Imagined

Is there a more fitting duo than Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart? It’s almost like their friendship behind the scenes rivals that of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in terms of playful banter. And when it comes to their acting together, they truly have an unmatched on-screen chemistry.

In my opinion, Chris Evans could potentially match or even surpass Johnson’s acting style.

Evans delivers a remarkable performance as a father with a golden heart despite his questionable past in this film.

In the story, when Johnson’s character interacts with someone as self-centered as Evans’ character, it’s natural for tension to arise. However, this isn’t petty tension; there are no loud arguments or outbursts. Instead, both actors skillfully portray their characters in a way that their flaws complement each other harmoniously but subtly.

Somehow, it just works, and I never expected this pairing to be so enjoyable, but it is. I love it!

I Like How We Learn That Santa Is Essentially Ant-Man

Isn’t it a fact that almost everyone adores the Ant-Man films, particularly the initial two? They are amusing, captivating, and Ant-Man possesses an astounding power to change size at will, becoming either incredibly small or large.

Surprisingly, Red One didn’t only teach me the usual, but also revealed an intriguing aspect: How Santa manages to squeeze through numerous chimneys despite his jolly, rotund image.

In contrast, this film presents an interesting twist: 1. Santa is not traditionally portly because he’s powerfully built from frequent workouts in the gym, and 2. he possesses the extraordinary capability to change size using a magical gadget, much like Ant-Man does.

In certain action scenes, Johnson’s character makes use of the gadget, employing it to shrink in order to dodge a punch, followed by growing back up to deliver a powerful blow on an unsuspecting villain.

Indeed, the power seems a bit unpredictable as it has the ability to enlarge toys into giants and, astonishingly, breathe life into a toy chicken in different instances!

As mentioned before, this film appears to be breaking its own rules spontaneously, yet it’s far from a bother – instead, it maintained an engaging and unpredictable pace throughout its duration of approximately two hours.

I Also Love That Krampus Isn’t The Antagonist When He Definitely Could Have Been

Surprisingly, there’s a deep-rooted history of horror movies set during Christmas. Beyond the well-known Black Christmas, directed by Bob Clark, who also made the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Story, there are numerous other films that take the seasonal color red to an extreme level.

Occasionally appearing in chilling Christmas-themed films, there’s a character named Krampus who undeniably graces the screen in this production as well. Interestingly, despite his potential for being the primary villain, he takes on a different role in the narrative.

In contrast, he portrays Santa’s sibling, and previously had a romantic relationship with the primary villain of this movie, a snow sorceress known as Gryla.

Currently, Krampus and Gryla are characters rooted in Christmas folklore, and it’s intriguing how the filmmaker drew inspiration from these more ominous narratives. What particularly appeals to me is that the movie chose to portray Gryla as the main antagonist, as she seldom appears in traditional Christmas films. Consequently, her presence in this movie was a delightful change of pace for me.

Moreover, there’s an enjoyable scene in which Krampus teasingly swats at Johnson, and I appreciate the portrayal of Krampus as comical instead of frightening. Given the numerous scary renditions already, it’s refreshing to see more of the character Gryla!

Overall, I Love How It Doesn’t Feel Much Like A Christmas Movie, But It Also Does At The Same Time

Among the Christmas films I adore, none compares to the goofy charm of “Jingle All the Way“. The hapless and harried Arnold Schwarzenegger wonderfully portrays a father desperate yet affectionate on a chaotic Christmas Eve, scouring the town for that elusive, ideal gift for his son.

I find myself particularly drawn to this movie because it’s not your typical holiday film. However, it still retains many elements common in Christmas movies, unlike Die Hard, which is a movie often argued to be a Christmas film, but I personally don’t see it that way (it’s an excellent action movie nonetheless).

To clarify, “Red One” seems to embody a delightful balance. It’s undeniably an action flick, or even a blend of horror and comedy at times, but it also unquestionably falls under the category of Christmas movies. The entire plot unfolds after all, when Santa Claus mysteriously goes missing.

Despite being packed with excitement and even some spooky moments, it remains a heartwarming Christmas movie at its core, leaving me feeling all cozy by the end – just what I crave in a holiday film. (And no, not like Alan Rickman’s iconic scene from Die Hard, but still an incredible action sequence.)

Have you watched Red One yet? It’s currently available on Prime Video.

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2024-12-20 13:07