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Why Red One is an ideal fantasy/christmas combo
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Liv & I have been working our way through a handful of festive films this December, and one of them was Red One. I wasn’t expecting much. Big-budget action (and Christmas) films can have a habit of deploying deeply unoriginal storytelling. Instantly forgettable. But this one surprised me. It turned out to be a little Christmas cracker. Part of that comes down to the casting. Dwayne Johnson stars as Callum Drift, Santa’s head of security, with a sharp sincerity that helps ground the sillier elements. Chris Evans is good too as a reluctant, rebellious partner, and their banter adds genuine humour. What caught me off guard, though, was the excellent worldbuilding. The film treats Christmas as a functioning mythological system. Santa's part of a wider magical infrastructure, complete with rules, history, and consequences. There’s a secret organisation overseeing mythic beings, from elves to darker folklore to polar bear bouncers walking on two legs! Nice. The payoffs are neat too. No spoilers... but a highlight was the way they deal with the angry giant snowmen. It’s a small sequence, yet it perfectly captures what the film does well. Take a familiar Christmas image, apply fantasy elements, a dash of magic and then a twist that’s oddly satisfying. Easy to put on. Easy to enjoy. Ideal for an evening this week when you want something festive but gripping. P.S. Red One is currently available on Amazon Prime, so if you've got a subscription, why not grab a copy of my newly released book—Blood in the Green. You can still get free delivery in time to help fill a 24th of December stocking. Did you know monkeys are great at climbing Christmas trees too 🎄🐒 |
Jim Roberts - Newsletter
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I know I tend to beat the jungle drum about stories. But sometimes, a good one isn't everything. I went to see OVO by Cirque du Soleil last Saturday. A bucket list item for Liv. I wasn’t sure if it would be my jam. Honestly, the storyline was naff, with a few main characters speaking in gobbledygook (presumably insect language) in painful interludes. The humour felt a bit juvenile. We both rolled our eyes each time they returned to the stage. And yet, Liv said the show was 'one of the best...
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