Red Notice: A Big-Budget Waste of Time
Netflix’s latest action-comedy, Red Notice, boasts a star-studded cast— Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot— but ultimately fails to deliver on the promise of thrilling action or witty humor. This lavishly produced film, with a budget exceeding $200 million, feels like a cynical attempt to create a new Netflix franchise rather than a genuinely engaging film. While the presence of these A-list actors may draw in viewers, the film’s lackluster plot, uninspired action sequences, and generic jokes leave audiences wondering if the hefty price tag was worth it.
A Star-Driven Movie With Little Substance
It’s undeniably clear that Red Notice was designed to capitalize on the star power of its leading actors. Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot seem to be playing exaggerated versions of themselves rather than fully developed characters. Reynolds delivers his signature quippy humor, albeit in a toned-down, PG-13 style, while Johnson appears constrained and relying heavily on eye-rolls instead of his trademark charisma. Gadot emerges as the most genuine of the trio, seemingly enjoying the opportunity to play a cunning art thief.
The film’s strength lies in its few scenes featuring all three stars together, offering glimpses of potential for engaging dialogue and chemistry. However, Red Notice ultimately shies away from truly developing these interactions, opting for a safe and predictable approach.
A Global Setting That Feels Confined
While the film boasts a globe-trotting storyline, with locations spanning from Rome to Bali, Russia to Valencia, and Argentina to Cairo, the vast scope feels incredibly limited. The film spends an overwhelming majority of its time within enclosed spaces, effectively diminishing the impact of its supposed world-spanning journey.
Uninspiring Action and Unfunny Jokes
Red Notice lacks the excitement and originality expected from an action comedy featuring such a talented cast. The action sequences feel generic and unremarkable, particularly when compared to other successful action films like Extraction or the John Wick franchise. The film’s humor suffers a similar fate, relying heavily on predictable one-liners that fail to generate genuine laughter.
A Plot Driven by Formulaic Cliches
Red Notice adopts a familiar heist movie plot, with an Egyptian billionaire seeking three legendary bejeweled eggs (Cleopatra’s, no less!), offering a hefty reward to those who can recover them. Reynolds and Gadot, two rival art thieves, are both on the trail, with Johnson, an FBI agent, hot on their heels.
The film’s narrative structure relies heavily on exposition, with characters constantly delivering information dumps, revealing twists, and explaining their plans, creating a heavy-handed and predictable atmosphere. The characters themselves lack depth, with their character development largely centering around stereotypical themes like “daddy issues.”
The Inevitable Franchise Trap and the Rise of “Ghost Directors”
Red Notice is clearly positioned for a franchise, intentionally leaving open the possibility of sequels. While this approach may be financially lucrative for Netflix, it also speaks to a larger trend within Hollywood of prioritizing pre-determined franchises over original and innovative storytelling.
Johnson, as a major producer and actor, has significant influence over the direction of the film, effectively making him a "ghost director". His repeated collaborations with a small group of directors, including Rawson Marshall Thurber, suggest a lack of interest in exploring diverse perspectives and artistic approaches. This trend is further exemplified by his repeated partnership with Brad Peyton, their work together spanning disaster films like San Andreas and monster movies like Rampage.
Johnson‘s dominant presence in Hollywood raises concerns about the creative control of filmmakers and the future of original storytelling.
A Missed Opportunity for a Genre-Defining Film
Red Notice represents a missed opportunity for a truly compelling action-comedy. While it features a star-studded cast and boasts a global setting, it lacks the ingenuity, memorable action, and engaging humor to elevate it beyond a generic, forgettable film. The film’s shortcomings highlight a growing trend in Hollywood— the prioritizing of pre-determined franchises over original storytelling— ultimately resulting in a formulaic and uninspired product. The film’s success may be measured in subscriber numbers, but for cinephiles and fans of the genre, Red Notice ultimately falls short of expectations.
