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Review | Red One movie review: Christmas action comedy with Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans is too dark

The Rock gets knocked silly by monsters and murderous snowmen in his bid to save Santa Claus in a festive film devoid of Christmas cheer

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Chris Evans (left) and Dwayne Johnson in a still from Red One (category IIA), co-starring Lucy Liu and directed by Jake Kasdan. Photo: Prime

2/5 stars

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Christmas with The Rock is not nearly as much fun as one would hope.

In Red One, Dwayne Johnson stars as Cal, chief security officer to Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons). Burned out from the stress of dealing with humans, Cal is about to retire when his boss is kidnapped on Christmas Eve.

This is the baffling premise of Jake Kasdan’s action comedy, apparently geared towards prepubescent boys who think Christmas does not have enough firepower – or trolls, witches, torture chambers, slap fights and car chases.

RED ONE | Official Trailer

Helping Cal rescue Santa is Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), an alcoholic gambler in debt to the mob and a long-time Christmas cynic.

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