The 2024 Christmas “feel-good” film Red One is different. For a start? It’s a new Santa Claus. Gone is the jolly round fellow with rosy cheeks. In is a buff J.K. Simmons as the jolly chap who delivers toys. Red One is a mix of old fashioned, reindeer power, and modern computerized toy assembly line.
It is all about selling Santa to a more modern audience.
It sort of works as an action/CGI/Comedy Christmas movie.
The story
Jack O’Malley grows up to be the man who sets in motion the kidnapping of Santa. He ends up helping Callum Drift and the rest of Santa’s team to save the bearded muscle-bound Father Christmas. Jack’s journey brings him in contact with Krampus, and his inner child.
The Cast
Dwayne Johnson is Callum Drift.
Chris Evans is Jack O’Malley.
Lucy Liu is Zoe.
J.K. Simmons is Nick, AKA Santa Claus, AKA Father Christmas.
Bonnie Hunt is Mrs Claus.
Kristofer Hivju is Krampus.
Kiernan Shipka is Gryla.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis is Olivia.
Nick Kroll is Ted.
It kind of works
Director Jake Kasdan manages to make this “kitchen sink” comedy work. *Why wouldn’t he? After all he delivered in spades with Jumanji: The Next Level. A follow up that had a hard act to follow.* The screenplay by Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia does feel a tad like everything that could be put into it; was.
It is not surprising that the action sequences work so well. The very presence of Johnson and Evans makes this a surety. There are a lot of gags.
Callum, as the head elf “That’s E.L.F.” has anger issues. Evans is still a child in terms of emotionality. The exact opposite of his “Cap” in Marvel.
Lucy Liu as the “director” (A clear homage to her role as head Yakuza in Kill Bill.).
Red One utilizes Ant-Man tech.
The Wonder Woman gag.
The Krampus sled noise is a clear nod to Friday the 13th; all of them.
Red One borrows from The Golden Compass, Harry Potter and a number of other films. But then, so do most of the films coming out of Tinsel Town at the moment.
Some Things Never Change
Santa, and Christmas in Hollywood land, are all about good cheer, presents, children and finding the good in everyone. *Gone are the days when St Nick would dole out coal for the naughty kids.”
Sadly, Red One could have benefitted from more of the incredibly buff J. K. Simmons as Nick. He is the one constant, despite his new character changes, he is the reason we commercially celebrate Christmas.
Tweens?
It looks like the film was aimed at the tween demographic. It takes the legend of Krampus and amps it up. Gryla, the Kramp’s old girlfriend, wants to punish everyone and even he is not up for it.
Red One is clearly aimed at a younger audience in the throes of moving up the maturity chain. The film is too juvenile for adults, bar the action scenes, and too old for the little ones. It is neither fish nor fowl but has an impressive cast list despite borrowing from other films.
Problems
Number one is the use of CGI.
Number two is borrowing heavily from other films that have gone before.
Examples include, the Ant-Man tech, the “possession” scene with Ted uses James Gunn’s Slither tech book. The list goes on, but you get the idea.
Believe it or not, the Red One suffers from a lack of originality. The tale of Santa being in peril, or the danger of Christmas not happening has, amazingly, been done before.
The Verdict
Red One does entertain. It is, in places, funny and touching. *These reactions may be based on how many drinks you have had, just saying.* It is a solid 3 stars out of 5. The film feels like a feeble attempt to be another Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It is streaming on Prime right now.
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