Red One Movie Review (2024)

Parents need to know that Red One is a Christmas-themed action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans as unlikely allies who must work together to save a kidnapped Santa. Setting itself a bit apart from standard mainstream holiday fare in an attempt to appeal to older tweens and teens, the movie leans into the action, with lots of chase and fight sequences, weapon use, and scary, menacing monsters. It also has a few women in tiny bikinis and fairly strong language, including "d--khead," "s--t bag," and "s--t." A nearly empty bottle of bourbon and a glass are shown next to someone who's "naughty" (he also sips from a flask and has a tropical drink in Aruba). Evans' character, Jake, is a Santa-doubting grinch who takes shady jobs, neglects his son, and even steals candy from a baby, but—of course—he learns to appreciate the magic of Christmas. Johnson's character, Callum, on the other hand, is a strong example of integrity from the outset, and the movie's message is that every day, every choice we make gives us the opportunity to be good.

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Violence & Scariness

a lot

Frequent action violence includes kicking, punching, slapping, fighting, explosions/fires, and bodies being thrown around/into things. A stun gun-like weapon is used to put assailants into stasis. Beasts and other menacing monsters (including the legendary Krampus and his hell hounds and other creepy minions) roar and attack. Terrifying snowmen with sharp teeth swing axes and "ice" their victims. A witch possesses an underling. Santa and a kid are in peril; characters are kidnapped/taken captive.

Language

a lot

Strong language includes "a--hole," "bulls--t," "d--khead," "s--t," "s--t bag," "shut up," "balls," "butt," "dumb," "screw over," "morons," "imbeciles," and "hell." Also "good God," "oh my God" as exclamations. One instance of "what in the actual f—" that's abruptly cut off.

Products & Purchases

a lot

Lots of toy brands are shown (Monopoly, Slinky, Uno, Ty, Lego, and more), with particular attention given to Hot Wheels. Chevrolet vehicles are featured frequently. Mall store logos seen includes Zales, Von Maur, and more. Tazo tea, Yamaha piano.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

a little

At a beach resort, women wear tiny bikinis that reveal their butt cheeks; men are shirtless and/or in swim trunks or Speedos. In one scene, Evans' character leers at a female character who's wearing very little.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

a little

Nearly empty bottle of bourbon and a glass are shown next to a "naughty" character; it's implied that he was drunk and has a hangover. He also sips from a flask and has a tropical drink in Aruba.

Positive Messages

a lot

Every day—and every choice—is a new opportunity to be good and choose good, and we can choose who we want to be. For every adult, the kid they were still lives inside them. People can change themselves for the better if others believe in them.

Positive Role Models

a lot

Jake starts out cynical and shady but learns to appreciate the magic of Christmas and wants to be a better person. Callum is calm, even-tempered, and rational, and acts with integrity. As commander of the ELF unit, he demonstrates leadership and teamwork to keep operations at the North Pole moving—and to recover Santa after he's kidnapped. He works in tandem with Zoe, the female director of an aligned organization. Santa Claus is incredibly fit and pretty cool, and trains to be in shape for the annual ride and present drop.

Diverse Representations

some

Santa's right-hand man, Callum Drift, is played by Black/Samoan actor Dwayne Johnson. Zoe, the director of the mythological creature protection organization, is a smart, sharp, organized woman played by Chinese American actor Lucy Liu. Shapeshifting villain Grýla is mostly in the form of a White woman (Kiernan Shipka); her children/minions are from a variety of races. Santa and Jack are White men, as is director Jake Kasdan.

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