By: Onica Mary
"Red One" is a 2024 American Christmas action-comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Chris Morgan, based on an original story by Hiram Garcia. In this festive adventure, Callum Drift (Johnson), the head of Santa Claus's security, teams up with hacker Jack O'Malley (Evans) to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus (Simmons) on Christmas Eve.
Plot Overview:
The narrative centers around the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA), a clandestine organization safeguarding a secret peace treaty between mythological creatures and humanity. Callum Drift, disillusioned by the growing number of individuals on Santa's Naughty List, plans to retire after one last Christmas. However, when an unidentified black ops team infiltrates the North Pole and kidnaps Santa Claus, Callum is compelled to postpone his retirement. MORA director Zoe Harlow apprehends Jack O'Malley, a freelance hacker who unwittingly compromised the North Pole's location. Despite his skepticism about Santa's existence, Jack joins forces with Callum to track down the abducted figure. Their investigation leads them to confront Grýla, a shape-shifting winter witch from Icelandic folklore, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka. Grýla, harboring a vendetta against Santa, plans to imprison individuals listed on the Naughty List within magical snow globes. The duo also encounters Krampus, Santa's estranged adoptive brother and Grýla's former lover, played by Kristofer Hivju. Initially reluctant, Krampus eventually aids in the mission, leading to a climactic confrontation that tests the bonds of family and the spirit of Christmas.
Cast and Characters:
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Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift: The steadfast and formidable head of Santa's security detail, grappling with disillusionment but driven by a deep-seated commitment to protect Christmas.
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Chris Evans as Jack O'Malley: A skilled hacker and bounty hunter whose inadvertent actions endanger Christmas, leading him to embark on a redemptive quest alongside Callum.
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Lucy Liu as Zoe Harlow: The assertive and strategic director of MORA, orchestrating efforts to restore order and ensure the safety of mythological entities.
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J.K. Simmons as Santa Claus: A reimagined, resilient version of the iconic figure, whose kidnapping sets the narrative in motion and whose legacy embodies the essence of Christmas.
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Kiernan Shipka as Grýla: The enigmatic and vengeful winter witch from Icelandic legend, whose complex motivations and actions challenge the protagonists.
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Kristofer Hivju as Krampus: Santa's estranged adoptive brother, embodying the duality of familial conflict and reconciliation, whose involvement is pivotal to the resolution of the central conflict.
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Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus: A supportive and wise figure, instrumental in rallying the North Pole's inhabitants and embodying the nurturing spirit of the holiday season.
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Nick Kroll as Ted: A broker entangled in the underbelly of the mythological world, whose actions have unforeseen consequences on the unfolding events.
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Wesley Kimmel as Dylan: Jack's estranged son, whose relationship with his father adds emotional depth and underscores themes of redemption and familial bonds.
Production and Release:
Principal photography for "Red One" commenced in October 2022 in Atlanta and concluded in February 2023. The film's production faced challenges, including scheduling delays attributed to Dwayne Johnson's frequent tardiness, which reportedly inflated the budget to between $200–250 million. Despite these hurdles, the film was released theatrically in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 6, 2024, followed by a United States release on November 15, 2024. It became available for streaming on Prime Video on December 12, 2024.
Reception:
Upon release, "Red One" received predominantly negative reviews from critics. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as "profoundly depressing and blandly sentimental," criticizing its commercial and formulaic approach. Conversely, Glenn Garner of Deadline Hollywood acknowledged the film's "family-friendly holiday fun with a generous dose of self-aware absurdity," suggesting that its cheesy elements align with its Christmas movie intentions.
Commercially, the film underperformed, grossing $97 million in the United States and Canada, and $88.7 million in other territories, totaling $185.7 million worldwide. This fell short of recouping its substantial production budget, marking it as a box-office disappointment. Despite its theatrical shortcomings, "Red One" garnered significant viewership upon its streaming release, with reports indicating a record 50 million global viewers during its debut weekend on Prime Video.
Conclusion:
"Red One" endeavors to blend traditional holiday themes with action-packed adventure, offering a fresh take on Christmas folklore. While its ambitious narrative and ensemble cast aimed to create a new holiday classic, the film's reception suggests a divisive outcome. Nevertheless, its availability on streaming platforms provides audiences an