Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s highly anticipated new Christmas movie, Red One, is facing a frosty reception from critics, with early reviews labeling it a “festive flop.” This action-comedy, directed by Jake Kasdan, who previously worked with Johnson on Jumanji, and penned by Chris Morgan of Fast & Furious fame, sees Johnson take on the role of a top operative tasked with rescuing a kidnapped Santa Claus (played by JK Simmons). He teams up with a tracker, portrayed by Chris Evans, to embark on a global mission to save Christmas.
Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift in the Christmas movie Red One, facing early negative reviews
Red One, boasting a substantial $250m budget and a star-studded cast including Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt, and Kiernan Shipka, was expected to be a holiday hit. However, critical responses suggest a different story.
David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter didn’t mince words, calling the film “so ugly, artificial and overlong that it should cure kids of any belief in magic.” He went on to describe Red One as “the equivalent of a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking,” highlighting its failure to deliver holiday cheer.
Alison Willmore at Vulture echoed the disappointment, stating, “If Red One were a disaster, it’d be more interesting. Instead, it’s a technically passable action-comedy transparently stitched together from parts scavenged from other movies.” This suggests a lack of originality and genuine spark in the film.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian found the movie to be “profoundly depressing and blandly sentimental,” while Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire went as far as to call it a “charmless, level-four naughty-lister that will make you wish Christmas was canceled.” These reviews paint a picture of a Christmas movie that misses the mark on festive spirit and entertainment value.
Even Owen Gleiberman at Variety shared the sentiment, remarking that Red One “gives Christmas a backstory it didn’t need,” implying an unnecessary and perhaps convoluted plot.
Luke Hearfield, a journalist, expressed his dismay on Twitter, tweeting, “Yeeesh! I don’t have the energy to sugarcoat it today guys, Red One is pretty bad.” He questioned the film’s target audience, criticizing the writing, CGI, and cast chemistry.
However, not all reviews were entirely negative. William Bibbiani from The Wrap offered a slightly more positive perspective, admitting, “I actually kind of like it.” He described it as “a reasonably entertaining three-star blockbuster” with “fun ideas” and a “brisk storytelling style.” While not overwhelmingly praising, this review suggests Red One might still offer some entertainment value for undemanding viewers.
Following a year-long delay, reportedly due to the Hollywood strikes, Red One is now released in UK cinemas and is set to hit US theaters on November 15th. Despite the negative buzz, audiences will soon have the chance to decide for themselves if this New Christmas Movie With The Rock lives up to the holiday hype or truly is a festive flop.
