RED ONE Review Roundup: Watching The Rock's Latest Movie Is Like Finding A Lump Of Coal In Your Stocking

RED ONE Review Roundup: Watching The Rock's Latest Movie Is Like Finding A Lump Of Coal In Your Stocking

The reviews embargo for Red One has lifted and, despite mostly positive reactions on social media, these point to a movie that's among the worst Christmas blockbusters ever made. Read on for details...

By JoshWilding - Nov 06, 2024 07:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: SFFGazette.com

It's not been a great few years for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. From Young Rock's cancellation to a failed attempt to take over the DCEU with Black Adam and even the way pro wrestling fans rejected him in favour of Cody Rhodes, he's in desperate need of a win.

Unfortunately, if the first wave of Red One reviews are any indication, his pricey new Amazon movie isn't going to be it. Yes, early social media reactions were somewhat positive but these verdicts seem to tell a very different story. 

As per usual, we'll kick things off with the trades; according to The Hollywood Reporter, "This holiday entry, which could almost have been called A Fast & Furious Christmas, is so ugly, artificial and overlong that it should cure kids of any belief in magic...Red One is the equivalent of a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking."

Variety was also left wanting, concluding its review by stating, "The villains are shape-shifters, but the key thing about 'Red One' is that the whole movie is a shape-shifter: arduous action jape, low-kitsch Christmas fairy tale, buddy movie, family-reconciliation movie — every quadrant and demo must be served."

Deadline was a little kinder and explains, "Yes, it’s cheesy, but this movie is best when it leans heavily into the cheese. If that makes your eyes roll, keep in mind this is a Christmas movie ultimately intended for kids who’ve made it all the way through the MCU on Disney+ twice and their parents now need a reprieve."

The Guardian has little love for Red One and goes so far as to say, "There’s nothing wrong with a big-hearted film for Christmas, but this commercial and formulaic slice of content is a toy destined to be forgotten, not by Boxing Day, but mid-November."

Empire Online shares a similar sentiment - "There’s a little bit of heart here, in the story of two people who have lost faith in Christmas for very different reasons, but more often this feels engineered in a lab to provide seasonal spectacle" while Digital Spy declares, "Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson can't save [this] festive flop."

"This film would have worked if it leaned more into the humor, but it doesn’t muster up more than the occasional chuckle, mainly with Evans responding to the insanity surrounding him. Beyond that, Red One won’t be the Christmas classic it hopes to be," reads Coming Soon's review. IndieWire, a site which rarely approves of blockbuster fare, ponders, "Red One will make you not only bummed about the holidays ahead, but about cinema’s future as well...Make it a Christmas miracle, and cross this 'Red One' off your list."

There's some holiday cheer courtesy of MovieWeb who calls the movie "a surprisingly clever Christmas action-comedy" in an otherwise middling review.

In the movie, after Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

Will you be checking out Red One in theaters or when it hits streaming?

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TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 11/6/2024, 7:55 AM
I’m not surprised.
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:03 AM
Congratulations from Canada to your new lord and king 🎉
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 11/6/2024, 8:15 AM
@Kadara - Yeah we don't want a king or anyone for people to worship. Hopefully he can do a decent job but I am concerned with his tariff plan as that typically increases costs for the consumer
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 11/6/2024, 8:17 AM
@Kadara - Speak for yourself. [frick] you America, from the world. You've gone and [frick]ed up again.
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:26 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - Bro he won so convincingly with Elon and all his rich friends, I expect taxes will be nice for the rich, maybe, hopefully not so bad for us lower people.
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:28 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - I'm in Canada first of all. Secondly. I'm honestly happily this mad man won because if he didn't we probably be facing a civil war today. Enjoy four years of shame 😂
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 11/6/2024, 8:28 AM
@Kadara - He increased them on the middle class last time he was in office so I wouldn't expect anything unless you are particularly wealthy.

Middle class will likely continue to be weakened
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 11/6/2024, 8:29 AM
@Kadara - I'm not sure the right side won if they would have started a Civil War if they lost...
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:31 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - US made their decision, I'm tired of bro. Good luck with him. I'm just happy there's no civil war because of this moron and his followers.
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:33 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - It wouldn't matter, innocent lives would be lost because of a madman and his cult. I've seen it before in my country, I'm glad I don't have to hopefully ever see it again. Long live the dictator.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 11/6/2024, 8:34 AM
@Kadara - "Long live the dictator."

Strange take
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:50 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - If they lost omg 😧
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/6/2024, 9:09 AM
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 11/6/2024, 9:40 AM
@Kadara - I'm Canadian too. That's why I said, "SPEAK FOR YOURSELF". Don't speak on behave of all of us.
Like when I said "[frick] you America you [frick]ed up again!" that's me talking. Not the country I live in.
Ikusa
Ikusa - 11/6/2024, 10:19 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - Yeah, but with Madame Turkeyneck the middle-class would have been wiped out completely. Ever seen a country after a few decades of socialism where the middle class is thriving?
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:08 AM
Thank God Trump won, the loser would've instigated Ww3 if he didn't sore loser bitch, I mean dear next president.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/6/2024, 8:18 AM
@Kadara - you don't even live here jackass
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:24 AM
@bobevanz - US unfortunately rules all over the world. So I get my opinion in wherever I can sweetheart 😘
Kadara
Kadara - 11/6/2024, 8:53 AM
@bobevanz - Thank f God by the way. Enjoy worshiping two party only choice and choosing the lesser of two evils. Was worried there for a minute we had to come in to calm you folks down but glad to see you all bow down to your fascist. We'll rescue you next time, cheers 👍🏾
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/6/2024, 8:17 AM
Thing94
Thing94 - 11/6/2024, 8:19 AM
Trump for the common sense win! The people have spoken! See ya Kamala! Haha!
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 11/6/2024, 9:10 AM
@Thing94

Notice how none of the dems are crying about the election being stolen or rigged. Win with class and lose with class.
Thing94
Thing94 - 11/6/2024, 9:16 AM
@regularmovieguy - They aren't? Look up Cardi B and Bette Miller's and Adam McKay's response. And I'm sure more is coming. Losers
The1st
The1st - 11/6/2024, 9:43 AM
@Thing94 - Will they be at the capital come...January though? Probably not.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 11/6/2024, 9:48 AM
@Thing94

Lol. I’ve only seen Adam McKay’s and nowhere did he say it was rigged or stolen. You’re not going to see anyone storming the Capitol because Kamala lost.

And you’re not going to see Joe Biden making any calls asking for 10,000 votes.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 11/6/2024, 10:10 AM
@regularmovieguy - 11,780 to be specific
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 11/6/2024, 8:22 AM
Don't mind me I'm just here to feast on the tears of the usual suspects.

WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 11/6/2024, 8:23 AM
Chris Evans is in it so I'm watching it.

ALSO Santa!!

User Comment Image
That's what Josh said
dragon316
dragon316 - 11/6/2024, 8:24 AM
Watch movies as movie critic most likely not like everything you watch saw monster summer with Mel Gibson guy said as I walking out that was good fun movie I agree with sit back enjoy forget real world for few hours no need not pick everything take fun out things I’m glad I’m no paid movie critic they hate comic movies and horror movies it’s fans of movies who know how to have fun what what they like

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