The two sexiest men on the planet couldn't save the movie.

With its massive budget, the action film "Red One" was expected to be a blockbuster that would create a sensation at the end of the year. However, the film was heavily criticized by critics for its outdated and shallow script, and the two stars, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, were also lackluster.

With an investment of up to $250 million, Red One (Vietnamese title: The Red Code was once one of the most expensive blockbusters of all time when it was announced. The project brought together a star-studded cast including Dwayne Johnson – That is, The Rock, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka… promise to blow up the box office upon release.

Unfortunately, the film didn't receive the positive feedback it had hoped for. Most critics found the script outdated and the character development clichéd. Even the performances of Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans were unimpressive and lacked the power to save the film.

Few special features

The film brings viewers the Christmas spirit by offering a humorous take on Santa Claus (JK Simmons).

The story begins when a famous figure is kidnapped by a group of strangers, threatening to ruin the year-end holiday. Callum Drift's (Dwayne Johnson) Arctic Security Chief's retirement plans are therefore also disrupted.

At this point, Drift is forced to put aside his personal interests to set out to rescue Santa Claus. Following the clues, he discovers that the incident is connected to Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans) - the world's most notorious bounty hunter.

Coincidentally, Jack's son was also kidnapped, so he agreed to help Drift on his transcontinental mission.

Sitting in the director's chair for a film is Jake Kasdan - previously had success with many comedy films such as Bad Teacher (2011) Sex Tape (2014), especially the two parts Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). The screenplay was written by "golden screenwriter" Chris Morgan – the author of Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017) - authored.

Therefore, Red Dot It possesses all the desirable elements of a Hollywood blockbuster. However, the film's script is so monotonous and boring that it's hard to understand.

The story continues build Following the familiar "mismatched pair" motif often seen in Hollywood action films, Callum Drift and Jack O'Malley, initially strangers with significant differences, gradually come to understand each other, eventually working together seamlessly to achieve their goals.

The team attempted to blend various genres, from comedy and action to adventure and fantasy, to create a highly entertaining film. As a result, many illogical situations arise, such as the protagonist being brutally beaten by a snowman, or the appearance of numerous monsters that make Santa Claus's world even more terrifying.

The excessive use of exaggerated situations makes the film surreal, reminiscent of superhero movie projects. Marvel.

Through the rescue of Santa Claus, the film still subtly conveys the message about the "good child" within each person. Anyone, regardless of their dark past, always has the opportunity to become a better person. Even Jack O'Malley, a man who had long been skeptical of Christmas, had to reflect and change himself.

Additionally, the film also attempts to incorporate themes of family and friendship, similar to many films released during the Christmas season.

The Rock and Chris Evans couldn't save the film.

With his years of experience, Dwayne Johnson had no difficulty playing Santa Claus's bodyguard. The actor had previously collaborated with director Jake Kasdan many times, so he was given ample screen time.

Star Fast & Furious He demonstrated his versatile acting abilities. He played Callum Drift naturally and humorously, bringing much laughter to the audience. However, it must be said that the actor did not create many surprises for the audience; his acting style was somewhat repetitive compared to previous projects.

According to For The Wrap , Dwayne Johnson encountered numerous problems during filming. The actor frequently arrived 7-8 hours late and missed many days of filming, causing delays and costing the producers an additional $50 million for the project.

This marks Chris Evans' first collaboration with The Rock on a film project. The two top Hollywood action stars have worked together seamlessly, creating hilarious dialogue and spectacular action sequences.

Coincidentally, both of them have been featured in magazines. Military Voted "Sexiest Man in the World": The Rock in 2016 and Chris Evans in 2022.

However, Chris Evans's performance was somewhat lackluster because the character was simply developed and lacked depth. The actor couldn't fully showcase his abilities, and was sometimes overshadowed by The Rock's powerful performance.

The two big action stars also faded into obscurity in the film.

When launched, Red Dot It wasn't well-received by critics. The film is rated "Rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes with only 34% positive reviews. Writer Kevin Maher of The Times They rated it as "boring, confusing, and the worst film of The Rock's career."

The film has an average score of 6.9/10 on IMDb. Most viewers agree that while it's still funny and entertaining, the script is weak and unengaging. However, the project boasts impressive visuals, with a significant portion of the budget invested in production design. The computer-generated special effects are also meticulously crafted, bringing the story to life.

Overall, Red Dot It's disappointing because it still follows the familiar Hollywood filmmaking formula. The script is monotonous, the storytelling lacks surprises, and it doesn't really live up to its $250 million budget.

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