Red One

If you saw the Rotten Tomato score you would think this was a travesty but it isnt. This is actually decent and thats coming from a person who maybe has a total of 20 movies above an 8.0.

Now mind you this is not a masterpiece. For example, Klaus was a great movie. This is not at that level but it does have more action and can generally be considered an easier watch because its an action adventure. Overall id say its a solid above average flick that will make it on the holiday watch list from here on.

Santa is kidnapped by the evil witch who wishes to use him as a battery to power her caper of punishing the naughty. The good guys have to rescue Santa while dealing with mythical creatures around the world.

There is violence involved but its very tame. I would say its nothing like Home Alone in terms of outright violent imagery so if you are ok with that, this is no worse. The only parts that might scare your kids are the creatures but they dont come off as menacing or anything. In fact the scariest ones like Krampus come off as somewhat funny and cheesy. Campy is probably the best tone to use here.

Give this one a shot and ignore the really strange user scores. I have no idea why its so bad on rotten tomatoes. Something is very wrong with critics over there with the collective 30% score. User score is 90%, just to show you how disconnected those critics were from anything sensible.

Give this a shot. Its not going to blow your socks off, but its a fun holiday flick.

Bursts onto the scene with a dynamic and inventive twist on the superhero genre, seamlessly blending action, humor, and holiday spirit. Directed with flair, it brings together a talented cast that elevates the narrative into something more than your typical action-packed adventure. Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans share an electric on-screen chemistry, each delivering standout performances that keep the audience engaged from start to finish. Their playful banter and contrasting personalities inject a sense of fun that is often missing in more conventional superhero films.

What makes Red One stand out is its refreshing approach to familiar tropes. While the movie has its fair share of explosive set pieces, it never forgets to ground itself in heart. The film's pacing ensures you're never bored, offering just enough depth and intrigue to keep the plot moving forward without overloading you with unnecessary complexity.

The visual effects are top-notch, providing a thrilling experience that matches the film's ambitious scale. Whether you're a fan of the genre or a newcomer to superhero films, Red One offers a thrilling yet lighthearted experience that redefines what an action movie can be during the holiday season.

If you want to watch a movie on Friday evening and eat popcorn, after a long week and just be entertained, this is the movie to watch. After the movie you can go home or to a bar, and you start your rest of the evening in a good mood, changed over from work week. It is not an oscar film, it is entertaining movie and it does it's job as entertainment increbly well. Best movie experience for last couple of months.

The writing does not take itself too seriously, but someone has read the script and gone over it to make it decent. None of the jokes are embarrassing or too cheap. There are some obvious jokes, but they are not overplayed. The characters are believable, I would make the same choices in these situations. The magic is using ruleset and isn't just blanket solution. I don't expect characters to have too much depth, but they have sides that I didn't expect and found fascinating.

It seems that critics have totally missed what this movie is and for who it is for.

Going in I expected just a cheesy Xmas film but to its credit Red One tried to do something different in the vein of a dark fantasy action Christmas adventure. It should be commended for that alone. Not quite the well executed violence of Violent Night, Red One takes a more light hearted approach with its dark action fantasy that can cater to a broader audience. It did this by attempting to combine action, with a heartfelt message and Christmas lore. Although it faltered in its execution mainly due to plot points, CGI and not fully capturing the Christmas spirit, the ambition of the film should be commended and it was boosted by performances from its lead cast. Whilst it won't any prestigious Xmas shortlists, it's a stocking filler that can be enjoyed at family gatherings.

Unlike some, I found this film every bit as engaging as most any other Christmas film. Was it as moving as a few old time classics, It's A Wonderful Life, A Miracle on 34th Street, etc? Maybe not, but for my money, it certainly held its own with the greater compliment of holiday films I've seen in my 60 years of life. I definitely see this as a film I'll be revisiting again, more than once, every holiday season. It certainly helped in my feeling the fun of Christmas in an especially tough year. Everyone in the cast did a fine job, the script worked well and all of the artistic and technical aspects made be believe in the magic. I'm so glad I didn't buy what the critics had to say. Red One is solid Holiday Surprise in all of the best ways!