Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: The ‘Red One’ Haters Are Just Naughty-Listers

REVIEW: The ‘Red One’ Haters Are Just Naughty-Listers

Jason FlattBy Jason Flatt11/13/20244 Mins ReadUpdated:11/24/2024
Red One
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

From Amazon MGM Studios, directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia, Red One starts on two essential notes. First, we see a disillusioned young Jack O’Malley attempting to ruin Christmas for his whole family, just because he’s a Grinch himself. But his uncle won’t let him. No matter how ridiculous Christmas and Santa may feel to Jack, preserving the potential for magic is essential to making joy.

Second, Santa Klaus (J.K. Simmons) is working hard to stay swole for the incredibly athletic feet that is delivering toys to every child in the world, when his closest friend, confidant, and coworker Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) walks in to tenure his resignation. Nick and Cal don’t talk about it, though. Ripped Santa and his friend have a heartfelt conversation instead. They talk about the meaning of Christmas and why the two of them have worked so hard to bring children joy for so many centuries together.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Dismiss these opening scenes as place setting or trite holiday movie exposition at your own peril. These are essential character-building moments upon which the entirety of Red One hinges. As Simmons plays jolly against type, Johnson feels more locked in than usual. He produced this movie, after all. They both come across as true believers in the moral of this movie—that how we treat each other matters and that everyone deserves a chance to learn that lesson. And that makes all the difference in a movie as otherwise outlandish as Red One.

Red One

Because shortly thereafter, Saint Nick is kidnapped, and an international agency led by no-nonsense Zoe (Lucy Liu), responsible for protecting the world’s myths and legends, shows up on adult Jack’s (Chris Evans) doorstep to solicit his help in getting Klaus back. There are talking polar bears, toy cars that turn real, and magic toy shop portals. Evans has an accent that’s impossible to pin down and the editing doesn’t always get the most out of the big action scenes unless The Rock is centered in them. There’s a lot of goofy yet overly serious elements to contend with here.

And yet. It works, and it’s not because of some Christmas magic. It’s because their mission feels truly heartfelt. Because of that early exposition, we care about Nick and Callum’s relationship. It’s heartbreaking to think that Zoe may have to tell every world leader that Christmas is canceled. And it feels earned when Jack slowly learns that he can actually be the father he never had if he just tries.

You can call it corny. You can say it has a few too many low-hanging jokes. You’d be right. But Red One never promises you more or less than exactly that. And nonetheless, the movie has a completely original take on the Santa mythos, strong lore, a few decent action scenes, and a bunch of well-earned, heartfelt moments. Without ever asking you to hold your breath for a sequel, the movie naturally invests you in its vast world of possibilities.

You’ll be yearning to know what other myths and legends could appear in this movie or beyond. And whether it’s slapboxing with giants or riding in Santa’s sleigh with his oversized steads, the action has an appeal that’s assisted by a fair amount of solid creature design. It is genuinely hard to tell if some creatures are CGI, practical, or a mix. Some look a bit goofy, but often, that adds to their appeal.

Red One

The minor characters are hit or miss. Bonnie Hunt is severely underutilized as Mrs. Klaus, while Nick Kroll has a few moments of solid physical comedy. Kiernan Shipka fluctuates as the main villain. She has some strong acting moments early on, but as the plot wears on, we see less acting from her and more monologuing, which is a shame. Her minions are aggravatingly stereotypical, but Kristofer Hivju breaks that mold by delivering a nuanced take on the character and his relationship with Santa and Christmas.

The Red One haters are just naughty-listers. The movie is fun and delivers more than its fair share of heartwarming moments. Playing J.K. Simmons against type up against a Rock who clearly cares about this movie diminishes the impact of whatever weird decisions Evans makes at any given time. But Jack’s plot with his estranged son pays off when you see the look on their faces when they finally see each other the way the movie is building towards from the beginning. It’s a fun and creative take on the holiday spirit.

Red One is in theaters everywhere November 15th.

Red One
  • 7/10
    Rating - 7/10
7/10

TL;DR

The Red One haters are just naughty-listers. It’s a fun and creative take on the holiday spirit.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous Article3 Reasons We Need a Film Adaptation of ‘The Devil in Me’ Game
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Mario & Luigi: Brothership’ Is An Exciting Adventure (Switch)
Jason Flatt
  • X (Twitter)

Jason is the Sr. Editor at But Why Tho? and producer of the But Why Tho? Podcast. He's usually writing about foreign films, Jewish media, and summer camp.

Related Posts

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

08/02/2025
Brandon Routh and co in Ick
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Ick’ Is A Near Perfect Horror-Comedy

07/29/2025
Bad Bunny and Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
5.0

REVIEW: ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Earns More Shrugs Than Laughs

07/29/2025
Hi-Five
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Hi-Five’ Introduces A Scrappy, Superpowered Team Up

07/28/2025
Still from Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo
5.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Haunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo’ Gets A Little Lost In The Weeds

07/26/2025
Dakota Gorman in HELLCAT
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘HELLCAT’ Runs High In Tension But Loses Steam

07/25/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

World of Warcraft The War Within Ghosts of Karesh But Why Tho Interviews

‘The War Within’ Patch 11.2 Addresses Raid Trash, Magic-Focused Comps, And More

By Mick Abrahamson07/31/2025Updated:07/31/2025

WoW Sr. Producer and Asst. Lead Quest Designer address The War Within 11.2’s Manaforge Omega, Reshii Wrap rewards, and Mythic+ balancing.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here