The embargo has lifted for Red One and most critics aren’t impressed with the Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Christmas adventure comedy movie. Amazon MGM Studios’ Red One opens in United States theaters on 15,

Review: Jake Kasdan's big-budget 'Red One,' starring Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson, is a disastrous bid at a Christmas franchise for Amazon/MGM.

Praise must once again be given to Chris Morgan’s script, which came from a story concept originating with Red One producer Hiram Garcia. As the Seven Bucks Productions stalwart wanted to create “a kick-ass Christmas movie,” action and emotion are complimented by some seriously intriguing world building.

An E.L.F. security officer (Dwayne Johnson) conscripts a dubious hacker (Chris Evans) to find a kidnapped Santa Clause (J. K. Simmons).

Here's the bad joke of Hollywood Christmas movies. They tend to begin, and end, with a blast of old-school Yuletide cheer. But that's just a tease. In between, most of them make a point of straying about as far from the Christmas spirit as possible.

The movie's shining light is JK Simmons as a muscly Santa who can easily do 500 press-ups in five minutes. He manages to sell the schmaltzy lines and is a great fit as Saint Nick in his second Santa movie outing following Netflix's exceptional Klaus. Unfortunately, the plot means he's off-screen after the first act and the movie suffers for it.

The most important thing I can tell you about Jake Kasdan's "Red One" is that yes, it's a real film starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans as a mismatched action movie odd couple rescuing a kidnapped Santa Claus,

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 2/5 stars Christmas with The Rock is not nearly as much fun as one would hope.