RED NOTICE: What happens when Netflix brings together three of the bigger blockbuster names
Netflix
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
Stars- Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya and Chris Diamantopoulos
If there was ever a super computer that you told to come up with a script for a movie that stars Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot. I’m pretty sure that computer would’ve churned out the screenplay for Red Notice. This isn’t exactly a bad thing though, clearly what both Reynolds and Johnson have been doing throughout their careers has been working for them, and they’re clearly in their element here to yet again be entertaining. The movie also gives Gal Gadot a chance to break the chains of playing mostly serious roles, and she holds her own amongst her charismatic co leads. It’s because of this that no matter how cliche Red Notice can be, that it’s actually a fun time.
When an Interpol-issued Red Notice the highest level warrant to hunt and capture the world's most wanted goes out, the FBI's top profiler John Hartley is on the case.
Admittedly, Johnson and Reynolds are both just playing the same characters we’ve seen time and time again from them. It’s not a bad thing, because the chemistry and back and forths between two of the larger personalities in the business right now made for some genuinely funny moments. The way Johnson’s always suave self handled the irritating personality that Reynolds has made his own since the release of Deadpool makes for some great encounters. While Ga Gadot really does her best to keep up, she shows tons of personality that I haven’t remembered as much of for any past roles. She has tons of fun playing up this super villain character, and never takes herself too serious either. When the three are on the screen at the same time- none out shine the rest, and we get some pretty solid development for all three of the trio. We understand their logic, and we understand every decision they make- and we can like all three for various reasons.
The story is both convoluted, but also pretty standard at the same time. This is the most action-y of action movies, but they also try to tell a pretty complex story and backstory for the characters as we go. There are definitely characters introduced that we don’t really need to have here and just eat up time, but it’s fine the destination is worth it. With some pretty great twists near the end, they set themselves up for a sequel which I’m totally not mad about given the way they reveal the twist and really lays out everything that we saw before in a much better way than had the twist not happened.
Choreography is pretty fantastic, we have some pretty cool action sequences for a movie that was made for Netflix. We also have a pretty great looking CGI matador bull that definitely cost a couple bucks. In the end Red Notice may be familiar territory for all three of the leads, and it also may feel far too familiar for action fans but there’s tons of fun to be had for a weekend afternoon movie to shut off your brain and watch some of the most charismatic in Hollywood go to work.
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