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The ongoing evolution of Hollywood Christmas movies
Hollywood has a long tradition of churning out Christmas movies that promise nostalgia and old-fashioned cheer. However, the spirit of Christmas often gets replaced with the modern ethos—one that’s vulgar, violent, and incredibly over-the-top. If you trace this trend back, you might find classics like “A Christmas Story” and “Home Alone” infused with a hint of cynicism.
A new entry: ‘Red One’
This brings us to a newest holiday movie, Red One. Directed by Jake Kasdan, it stars Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. However, what sets it apart is its surprising disdain for the true spirit of Christmas. J.K. Simmons plays an endearing Santa Claus, who gets abducted early on, while Johnson’s character, Cal, is a bodyguard contemplating retirement. It’s a genre-bending mix that falls somewhere between an action thriller and a festive fantasy.
From Santa’s throne to chaotic adventures
The movie opens traditionally enough: Santa greeting children in a shopping mall—a setting he bizarrely finds soulful. This scene quickly devolves into chaos. The season’s hot toy, a video game called Vampire Assassin 4, becomes a symbol of the anti-Christmas trend, mocking traditional holiday values. This could very well be a live-action version of the video game—filled with cheesy digital effects and a frenetic pace.
The ‘military’ operation
In its first comedic attempt, “Red One” introduces Santa’s operation as a military endeavor. Santa’s code name? Red One. Cal is part of ELF, which stands for Enforcement Logistical Fortification. He’s a secret-service style agent, complete with drones, Sno-Cats, and cargo planes. The dialogue is bombastic, reminiscent of vintage comedies laden with techno-jargon.
Buddy movie elements
Despite its focus on action, ”Red One” incorporates the buddy movie formula. Cal teams up not with Santa, but with Jack (Chris Evans), a degenerate gambler turned super-hacker. Their uneasy alliance forms the crux of the film. Jack’s hacking skills lead them to the North Pole, where Santa is held captive under a dome. However, this tale soon becomes a globetrotting adventure, from beach brawls in Aruba to medieval cantinas in Germany.
The antagonists
Kiernan Shipka portrays Grýla, the villainous witch who kidnaps Santa. This character, while lacking nuance, showcases the kind of menace that gives “Red One” its edge. Grýla’s ultimate plan? She aims to punish everyone on Santa’s naughty list. The dynamic between her and the protagonists, especially Cal and Jack, adds gravitas to the plot.
A shape-shifting narrative
“Red One” morphs continuously—from kidnap-rescue thriller to Christmas fairy tale, from buddy comedy to family reconciliation drama. Its shape-shifting nature caters to multiple audiences but can feel convoluted. The codification of Christmas into a manufacturable concept persists throughout, making the film as multifaceted as it is fragmented.
The festive backdrop
Santa’s reindeer are oddly depicted as tall, female digital creations, nicknamed “girls.” The design choices here epitomize the whimsical, sometimes baffling nature of the movie. Whether it’s battling ferocious snowmen or dodging attacks from Santa’s estranged brother, Krampus, the chaotic narrative keeps you on the proverbial sleigh ride.
Industry reflection
It’s worth noting that Hollywood has long experimented with blending traditional themes with modern sensibilities. What sets “Red One” apart is its unabashed embrace of chaos and technology as central elements, perhaps reflective of contemporary societal shifts. While purists might balk at such an approach, there’s an undeniable audacity to it that’s worth acknowledging.
In essence, Red One isn’t your average Christmas movie. It’s a frenetic celebration of modernity’s quirks crammed into a yuletide package. While some might appreciate the spectacle, others might find it a far cry from the true Christmas spirit.
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