“Red One” Review: Dwayne Johnson’s Christmas Adventure Misses the Mark

In Red One, Dwayne Johnson stars as Cal, Santa Claus’s chief security officer, in an action-comedy twist on the holiday genre. Directed by Jake Kasdan, this festive adventure opens with Cal on the brink of retirement, fed up with handling Christmas security concerns. But plans change when Santa (played by J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped on Christmas Eve, and it’s up to Cal to rescue him. Joining him is Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a grizzled gambler and Christmas cynic in debt to the mob, who reluctantly becomes Cal’s partner.

This film is a wild blend of trolls, car chases, witches, and torture chambers, seemingly crafted for audiences craving Christmas with a heavy dose of action. Their journey takes them to Aruba (portrayed by Hawaii), where they fight murderous snowmen and gather intel from a shady fence named Ted, humorously played by Nick Kroll. Ted reveals that Santa’s North Pole location has been sold to a buyer in Berlin, who turns out to be Krampus (Kristofer Hivju), Santa’s vengeful brother and the infamous creator of the “Naughty List.”

The pursuit leads Cal and Jack through a toy store’s hidden portal to Germany, where they face Krampus in his fortress. Along the way, they encounter Grýla (Kiernan Shipka), a leather-clad witch operating a bizarre device that traps souls in snow globes. The action unfolds in various locations—shopping malls, beaches, and the North Pole, reimagined as a fantastical Asgardian realm.

Though Red One follows in the footsteps of other holiday action-comedies like The Santa Clause series or Violent Night, the tone here often falls flat. Johnson’s usually charismatic presence feels unusually subdued, and his character, Cal, is regularly bested in fights, a surprising choice for an action hero. Despite a solid cast, including Simmons as a gruff Santa and Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus, the weak material fails to elevate their performances, and even Evans’ attempt at a Boston accent misses its mark.

The screenplay, penned by Chris Morgan—known for the Fast & Furious franchise—seems bogged down by excessive plot twists and supernatural elements, making it hard to connect with the holiday spirit. Kasdan, who previously directed the successful Jumanji films, appears to struggle here, delivering an action-heavy spectacle that lacks humor or heart.

While Red One tries to offer a fresh take on holiday entertainment, its convoluted plot and humorless approach leave it falling short. As much as Johnson has been a reliable lead in past films, this venture into holiday action might have done better with a lighter, more whimsical touch.

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