A Festive Gamble: Can 'Red One' Deliver the Goods?
The Trades Weigh In
The initial wave of reviews for "Red One" has been less than enthusiastic, with the industry's leading publications offering a mixed bag of assessments. The Hollywood Reporter, for instance, describes the film as "so ugly, artificial and overlong that it should cure kids of any belief in magic," while Variety likens it to a "shape-shifter" that struggles to find its footing, oscillating between "arduous action jape, low-kitsch Christmas fairy tale, buddy movie, [and] family-reconciliation movie."Deadline, however, takes a more forgiving stance, acknowledging the film's "cheesy" nature but suggesting that it's "best when it leans heavily into the cheese." The Guardian, on the other hand, is less charitable, dismissing "Red One" as a "commercial and formulaic slice of content" that is "a toy destined to be forgotten, not by Boxing Day, but mid-November."
A Divided Critical Landscape
The critical reception of "Red One" appears to be a mixed bag, with some reviewers finding moments of charm and humor, while others are left underwhelmed by the film's lack of originality and cohesion. Empire Online, for instance, notes that there is "a little bit of heart here, in the story of two people who have lost faith in Christmas for very different reasons," but ultimately concludes that the film "feels engineered in a lab to provide seasonal spectacle."Digital Spy, meanwhile, is even more scathing, declaring that "Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson can't save [this] festive flop." Coming Soon, on the other hand, suggests that the film "would have worked if it leaned more into the humor," while IndieWire, a site known for its discerning tastes, laments that "Red One will make you not only bummed about the holidays ahead, but about cinema's future as well."
A Glimmer of Hope?
Amidst the sea of negative reviews, there is a lone voice of positivity. MovieWeb, in a somewhat contrarian take, calls "Red One" "a surprisingly clever Christmas action-comedy," offering a glimmer of hope that the film may have something to offer beyond the critical consensus.Ultimately, the fate of "Red One" and its impact on Dwayne Johnson's career remains to be seen. As the holiday season approaches, audiences will have the opportunity to decide for themselves whether the film delivers the festive cheer and action-packed thrills it promises, or if it falls short of the mark, leaving Johnson in need of yet another career-defining win.