A transparent product, Red One comes across like it was written by an algorithm. Combining sanitized Christmas tropes with sanitized action tropes, it's two soulless stories in one. There isn't anything here that hasn't been done better several times over. It offers generic characters, bland humor, forced dialogue, lame lore, formulaic plot points, easy arcs, and a shallow climax. The acting is one-note and unenthused. Specifically, Johnson's same old shtick has become painfully tired. While all the fundamental story beats are present, the setup is so perfunctory that nothing ever feels satisfying or engaging. Consequently, Red One is derivative, disposable content.
Technically, Red One is devoid of tone or even a clear target audience. For a movie supposedly aiming to be magical, the cinematography is shockingly murky. Without apparent intention, its editing lacks momentum, tension, or brevity. The sound provides expected genre elements. Its music is forgettable and uninspired. The production design mashes monotonous worldbuilding with blatant product placement. Its famous cast is the sole reason anyone knows of this film, but that star power diminishes through projects like this. Despite skilled prosthetics, the effects are sunk by cheap and excessive CGI. Ultimately, Red One is everything wrong with commercialized filmmaking.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 2/10
Cinematography: 3/10
Acting: 4/10
Editing: 3/10
Sound: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 4/10
Production Design: 3/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 4/10
Overall Score: 4.0/10
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