Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday to really put a jingle in the holidays from director Jake Kasdan and Amazon MGM Studios is the story of RED ONE.

Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) is the ELF (Enforcement Logistics and Fortification) security for Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) and answers to M.O.R.A. (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority). Now Callum wants to retired after a few hundred years becoming disillusioned by how badly the world and those in it are behaving. Agreeing to one more flight, everyone is preparing and Ms. Claud (Bonnie Hunt) whips it all into shape.

All of a sudden, things go haywire and Callum realizes that Santa has been kidnapped on Christmas Eve! Who is responsible for this you might ask? Well one person is Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) who unknowingly helped someone hack into Santa’s business giving out top secret information. He also has an estranged relationship with son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel). Tracking him down is Director Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu) and after questioning him realizes he doesn’t know where Santa is. However, teaming him up with a disgruntled Callum, the two may be able to track down where he is.

That’s when they discover that Gryla (Kiernan Shipka), the winter witch, is responsible for everything. Callum thinks maybe she is working with Santa’s adopted brother Krampus (Kristofer Hivju) since he and Gryla once had a thing together. While Callum and Jack are running around the world, Gryla has started her own idea of how to handle the naughty and she already has someone in mind to test it out on.

Taking on Gryla, Callum and Jack aren’t not about to give up and an unexpected bit of help comes from an unlikely place!

Johnson as Callum is a rugged, tough looking and a bit solemn bodyguard for Santa Claus. He has the job down pat and does not have the patience for anything other than doing his job. When “Red” goes missing, Callum is not about to let anybody else find him. This is the perfect role for Johnson because he does gruff with ease and that’s not a bad thing. This is the first of two films he’s bringing this holiday season with MOANA 2 just waiting in the wings. Here, he gets to jump back into an action hero role once again and we are here for it.

Evans as Jack is a man who has, since childhood, made it clear that he has his own opinion about everything and owes no one nothing. Jack makes his money working for the highest bidder and that’s where he gets in trouble. Also, not spending quality time with his son doesn’t seem to faze him relying on Dylan’s mom to do the rearing. Coming across someone like Callum who isn’t dealing with excuses or nonsense. takes Jack on an adventure that has pitfalls coming close to loved ones. Evans runs with the role and since his sordid moments in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, he shows that adult humor pours out of him and it works.

Shipka as the winter witch has her reasons for wanting to take on the naughty list her way and it is ingenious actually. Her shapeshifting ways are very cool (with the help of special effects). Shipka gets a chance to be a bad girl herself and does so her own way. Hivju as Krampus is clever, hilarious and unexpected but I’d know that voice anywhere. He has a grudge against Santa so helping isn’t part of his master plan, he’d rather slap a few people around for fun.

Simmons as Santa is not what one would expect from a Claus. He is not round but he is physically fit and believes in what he does. Of course, his favorite part of the job is seeing the kids but he also takes care of the thousands of elves in his care and has a soft spot in his heart for Callum. I am thrilled Simmons gets to play Santa because I have always been a fan and followed his career. So, why not take on the role of Red and take it to levels we would never think of. He gives this ‘character’ just the right amount of twinkle in his eye and understanding in his spirit.

Lui as Director Harlow gets a chance to Charlies-Angels-up again with her moves but her job is to do one thing, get Red back to home before he misses Christmas! Lui is a strong character who matches Johnson’s toughness but then again, anyone in her role as Director would need to be I’m thinking.  Kimmel as Dylan is a young boy who seems to resemble his father in the troubled department but it seems to happen in order to get his wayward father’s attention.

Other cast include Gursham Arya as Drako, Marc Evan Jackson as Uncle Rick, Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Olivia, Nick Kroll as Ted and Reinaldo Faberlle as Agent Garcia.

MGM is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television across all platforms. Owning one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content and is home to two of the longest-running and most successful film franchise in cinematic history with JAMES BOND and ROCKY. For more please visit www.mgm.com.

RED ONE is so much fun filled with adventure, lore, wonderment, surprises and twists. We screened it as a family and we all had such a good time watching the film. You can feel the holidays are just gearing up and in the air so starting it off with this particular story, well, it begs that families get together for a night out at the theatres.

Putting the Johnson and Evans together was a stroke of genius as they played off one another so well. Bouncing off with a good-guy-not-so-good guy seasonal relationship, it takes the film full circle in the best of ways. The film brings everything with action, adventure, polar bears, crazy snowmen, a dash of mythology and more. As the holidays approach, there will be a fair share of seasons greetings on the big screen and small and RED ONE is a fantastic way to start.

In the end – you better watch out!

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