Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson’s Christmas movie that’s “pure entertainment” premieres on TV tonight

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If you’re hoping to find a fun and lighthearted Christmas comedy tonight, check out the new movie starring Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson – it’s being called ‘pure entertainment’!

In the 2024 film Red One, Dwayne Johnson plays Callum Drift, Santa’s chief of security. He’s planning to retire after completing one final Christmas delivery.

Okay, so the plot is totally wild! Basically, Santa gets kidnapped, and he calls on this awesome hacker and bounty hunter, Jack “The Wolf” O’Malley (played by Evans), to rescue him and save Christmas. It’s a crazy ride with talking polar bears, battles with evil snowmen on a beach of all places, and a final showdown with Krampus! It’s like a really fun thriller mixed with a Christmas comedy – I can’t wait to see it!

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The film boasts a fantastic cast including Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and JK Simmons as Santa, along with Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Bonnie Hunt.

The movie, formerly exclusive to Prime Video, will be shown on ITV1 tonight, December 19th, at 9pm. It will also become available to stream on ITVX after it airs.

The story is intentionally over-the-top, and that’s part of the fun. Most people agree this movie doesn’t try to be realistic, so you’ll enjoy it more if you embrace its strangeness.

An IMDB reviewer described the film as “pure entertainment,” praising it as a refreshing escape from overly serious and preachy movies. They highlighted its straightforward fun, clever writing, and ability to recapture the joy of watching movies.

Critics weren’t impressed with the film, giving it a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 186 reviews. But audiences loved it, awarding it an 89% ‘fresh’ rating and calling it a fun and entertaining watch.

According to a review in Digital Spy, the movie ‘Red One’ struggles to find its target audience. The humor feels too childish for adults, while the language is too strong for younger viewers. Even the villain, Grýla (played by Kiernan Shipka, who spends most of the film glaring), might be frightening for very young children.

Don’t expect a perfect film, but it could be a fun, lighthearted choice for some holiday laughs.

Red One airs on ITVX at 9pm on Friday 19 December and will be available afterwards on ITVX.

Enjoy the holidays with the Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide! It’s packed with 14 days of TV listings to help you plan your festive viewing. Get yours now for just £4.75 at Morrisons, TG Jones, and other magazine shops.

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2025-12-19 10:23