Many Christmas films have revolved around a recurring concept: “What if Santa Claus were real?” The imaginary world of that question can create something as earnestly sincere as the 1940s classic “The Miracle on 34th Street” or more zanily amusing like the original 90s “The Santa Clause”. Whatever mode the reimagining of the tale might take, the point is always to bring a level of wonder mixed with realism to the quaint notion of the jolly, rotund older man who takes joy in bringing cheer to children throughout the Christmas season. Whatever the incarnation, that focus on the joyous warmth of the Santa Claus mythology is most profound. It is unfortunate, then, that Jake Kasdan directs the new release “Red One” with nary an ounce of charm or tenderness that one would hope for in the first major Christmas blockbuster of the year.
The joyless pitfalls of ‘Red One’
