Red One: Action Packed Holiday Adventure (Op/Ed)

VIRIDIAN Entertainment staff Robert Arizmendi, Lochlan Chastain, and Cheyenne Seagraves give their opinions on the new 2024 Christmas movie, Red One.
by Robert Arizmendi, Lochlan Chastain, and Cheyenne Seagraves

(image courtesy of TheGuardian.com)

Cheyenne: 
I really liked how funny this movie was, and my favorite Chris Evans character, Jack. He was on the naughty list in the beginning, but as he worked with Cal (The Rock) to get Santa back, he eventually became good. He was really funny, and they always got out of the bad situations they were put in. 

My favorite part was when they had a slap competition with Sanat’s brother Krampus, and he slapped Cal to the ground, almost knocking him out. I also enjoyed hearing about Santa’s background and how the naughty list was Krampus’ idea when he and Santa worked together. 

I liked how action-filled this Christmas movie was, and how real everything looked. The snowmen were really scary-looking, and I thought it was really smart that they just had to rip the noses off to kill them. It was surprising that there was a Christmas witch wanting to make everyone be good and punish them if they weren’t because usually there’s someone trying to stop Christmas, a Grinch-like character. 

I was shocked that Santa was actually able to get taken in this movie, since in every other movie, Santa is always almost kidnapped, but the enemies are defeated before they can. I liked how Cal took his job so seriously that even though he was going to resign, he thought about the kids and how they needed Christmas.

In general, this movie was great and enjoyable. The plot was exciting, the dialogue was funny, and the characters were relatable and interesting. This movie is definitely a recommendation, an amazing watch.

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(image courtesy of Amazon Media)

Lochlan: 
Red One brings me back to those classic holiday movies that were unique and had a charm that carries with you through the holiday season. With The Rock being in the movie it adds that comedy that he and Kevin Hart have had but this time with Chris Evans. The Rock stands out in this movie as it features a cool, tough action hero to be the one that drives Chris Evans’s character to have a change of heart. We are used to Chris Evans playing the hero, but this time he is the comedic character and it reminds you of his work before he played Captain America. 

This movie has that spy movie vibe, and its being combined with Christmas is really well done. It reminds me of that elf spy movie, Prep and Landing, with its humor and the action vibe. I think the way they combined the two different movie genres is done excellently and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

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(image courtesy of IMDB.com)

​Robert:
Red One really captivated me with its unique blend of humor and vibrant visuals. The movie's colorful palette wasn’t just for show; it enhanced the comedic elements and kept the audience's spirits high throughout the film. 
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The storyline was engaging from start to finish, with a mix of witty jokes that had the audience laughing out loud and unexpected plot twists that added an element of surprise. Each character was distinct and well-developed, allowing viewers to connect with them on a personal level. This relatability made their interactions even funnier and more enjoyable to watch.

The casting was spot-on; each actor brought their character to life with skill and charisma, making the comedic timing even more effective. The chemistry between them was palpable, turning their banter into some of the film's most entertaining moments. Overall, "Red One" offers a delightful escape. It successfully combined great storytelling with humor, leaving me with a sense of joy long after the credits rolled.

The movie really stands out as a holiday action movie and is some of the best writing we have gotten out of movies this year. The movie is so good that we may even watch it again next year around Christmas.

We give this movie a 5 out of 5 Santa Spy Polar Bears.

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