Uno Rosso

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!

This isn't a flawless movie; some of the CGI and character designs are terrible (e.g. The Krampus cantina scene); the tone is an inconsistent mix of earnestness and moderately profane PG-13 snark; and the conclusion is predictable (as it is with virtually every Christmas movie, to be fair.) Nevertheless it has enough strange notions along the way that it's entertaining in spite of its flaws. The worldbuilding is inventive and the story combines Icelandic, Alpine and Nordic traditions in satisfying ways. The acting is decent. The protagonists are well-developed and they're just barely sympathetic enough that their redemptions are rewarding. Some of the dialogue is deceptively sharp. Overall the movie isn't trying to be anything other than unconventional bombastic fun and it mostly succeeds.

This isn't a future classic or reinvention of a genre but it is enjoyable, quirky and affable. I'm perplexed by the overwhelmingly negative critical response; but having gone into it with low expectations because of same I was pleasantly surprised.

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.

7/10

Red One is pure entertainment. It knows what it is, leans into it, and doesn't try to be anything else. Movies like this are a rarity these days-a fun, self-aware story that's well-executed without taking itself too seriously. Think The Toxic Avenger or other classics that knew they were dumb fun and embraced it. That's Red One, and it absolutely works.

What sets this movie apart is its solid storytelling. There are no plot holes that leave you scratching your head or logical inconsistencies that pull you out of the experience. Everything in Red One fits together in a way that makes sense for the world it creates. It's entertaining because it's well-written, even though it's a "bad" movie by traditional standards. That's the magic: it's a good bad movie, and it knows how to deliver on every level.

This isn't just a movie for kids, either. It's got plenty for parents to enjoy, too, from clever humor to genuinely heartfelt moments. It tells a wholesome story without being preachy, making it a perfect family film that's actually enjoyable for everyone.

It's frustrating to see some modern audiences trashing this movie. People seem to have forgotten what it means to just sit back and be entertained. Not every movie needs to be some deep, artistic exploration of the human condition. Sometimes, a film just needs to make you smile, and Red One nails that. Pure escapism.

If you're tired of agenda-driven, over-serious films that forget to actually entertain, Red One is a breath of fresh air. It's unapologetically fun, smartly written, and a reminder of why we love movies in the first place.

My husband and I enjoyed this "Avengers meets the North Pole" take on a Christmas movie. But, since when is there swearing in Santa's workshop? This movie is definitely not for young children--society has really become coarse and has lowered its standards when it comes to inappropriate, vulgar language. We had fun watching this movie, but profane language is a cheap crutch that we're tired of in "family" movies and TV. In adult action and drama movies, where it's in context, fine-we love a nice gritty thriller.

J. K. Simmons, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans and Lucy Liu were good in their roles, but we were disappointed that Simmons, as Santa, did not have a more prominent role. Johnson and Evans have wonderful chemistry and Liu fit right in as a no-nonsense security director. The movie was also a bit too long-it could have definitely been tightened up in the middle.

We don't recommend this as a family Christmas movie unless everyone is over 16.