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Red One Standing By! Let's Discuss Red One
10 Plays4 minutes ago
In this episode, Satsu is joined by the one and only Santa with muscles himself Martin MacAlistair to discuss a rather unusual holiday hit from Amazon. But what makes Red One stand out? Is this the manly version of a Hallmark film? And Santa's brother is WHO?! All of this and more in this episode!
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Transcript
Introduction and 'Santa with Muscles' Review
00:00:01
Speaker
You know what, Martin? I know it's been five years, but I can't believe we're finally reviewing Santa with muscles. Did you get the copy? Oh, did you mean the Hulk Hogan one? Well, obviously the one with Hulk Hogan. What other Santa with muscles could I be talking about? Eh, maybe you should open your present.
00:00:19
Speaker
Aww, what the hell is Red One? Is that JK Simmons in a Santa suit? Jesus Christ, they really got jacked for that film. What are we supposed to do now? Trust me, you're gonna all love it. What better way to celebrate the festive season than with gifts and gains?
00:00:36
Speaker
Well, that also explains the sleeveless Santa suits you got me. Welcome to Chad Tsunami.
Holiday Film Excitement with 'Red One'
00:00:45
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of Chatsunami. My name's Chatsunami and joining me is the only person I know with muscles in my life, Martin McAllister. Martin, welcome back. Andrew, please don't leave the podcast, I'm sorry. What a compliment. I was so sure you're about to say the only person that would also watch this film. column A column B I'm not gonna lie here but yeah how are you doing to today I'm doing very well after that even better after that how are you not too bad I mean the Christmas season is rolling around as of this episode if you're listening to it when it comes out Christmas is right around the corner. Cannot wait for that. That's going to be great. Hope you've got your Christmas shopping done, of course. I've got my shiny copy of Red One here um and Santa with Muscles and a, of course, cardboard cutout as you give me every year. It's a bit like, you know, the tree that Norway gives London every year.
00:01:45
Speaker
It's a bit like that, only unlike that where it's, I want to say wanted, but You know, it's expected. It's like just every year and I think, okay, he's not going to do it this year and then, yeah. It's become a tradition in this house. It was awkward before as a wrestler and was just a cardboard cut out of me just in like my normal clothes, but it's it's getting better and better for you. Yeah, it's getting more and more subtle. Just have to put it behind the couch. Even when guests come over, it's like, it's just your head. It's like Attack on Titan. Signal that it's a four-foot cardboard cut.
Review and Discussion of 'Red One'
00:02:16
Speaker
But yeah, of course, we are coming back this week with a rather interesting Christmas classic. So last week, I decided to test my sanity by reviewing A Merry Scottish Christmas and a Merry Little Xmas, I think, because of's so many films that has like... exmas as in e-exmas and it's like jesus christ here we go so we've got that it a fantastic episode not to watch the films but just to record it and then it was my therapy session that's all i'm saying it was my therapy session but it was a great episode you should totally listen to it this week we are of course going to be talking about the other santa with muscles as we joked about we're going to be talking about red one which i have to admit i can
00:02:59
Speaker
completely forgot about this film until you mentioned it initially, like a couple of years ago. In fact, sorry, a couple of years ago, came out last year. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, you mentioned it last year, and then this year I saw on Amazon. Yeah, I asked you, do you want to do it? And what was your response to that? it was a resounding hell yeah i actually saw this film in the cinema and it was only out in the center for like two or three weeks yeah was like of those weird amazon release ones so it's only in the cinema for a really brief time so if ever you're like think mentioned on the podcast before but if ever you're looking at a film you like who is this film made for and it's an action film with a rock in it it's made for me i bought this movie twice because i bought it on amazon and i went to go see it in the cinema of course yeah you know these movies are made for me and i'm very excited to talk about it i have to say i wasn't optimistic I mean, especially because it's one of those films, you look at the review scores and you go, oh lord, why is it so low? And then, you know, it's one these films, i watched it and I was like, okay, okay, this is interesting, this is different. And by the end of it, spoilers, I loved it. I thought it was actually a lot more enjoyable than, and maybe that's just because I had low expectations, but it was... a lot more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. And yeah, see out curiosity, comparing it to a lot of other films you watch during this time of year, because let's face it, I'm up as Christmas Carol, that has to be in the rotation. You've got your home alones and things. That's a wonderful life, that thing. Is this one you would say is in the rotation? Because it's kind of too early to tell. Yeah, it's only been one year. I see it's it's difficult because I think I've ever told this. So me and my wife, we watch The Hogfather every year, the Terry Pratchett we've seen on. And it's not very good. It is to us, you know, because it's special to us, but it's not a very good film, I don't think. Do you know, fun fact, sorry to interject there, but the only bit of The Hogfather I think I've seen, and this could be a totally different Terry Pratchett adaptation, but the only bit i've seen of that is someone getting wrapped up in like a carpet. or something yeah and then that was it it's like more fucking three channels it's like oh the hulk father of her don't teddy project and there was just that scene someone getting wrapped up in a carpet and i was like oh interesting yep that's the same film for so yeah i don't know i don't know if it' make it into rotation i hope so you know seeing we can put the is diehard a christmas movie debate yeah and just have now we've got a good old action movie a modern action movie for christmas now yeah Yeah, because I mean, jumping the gun a bit here, I was surprised at how fresh the ideas felt in this film, because a lot of the time when a new Christmas film comes out, you know, it's a bit like when a new Christmas song comes out. Everybody wants to be like, oh, we're going to be immortal, like, last Christmas, or simply having a wonderful Christmas time, you those kind of songs. And same with films, that they want to be in the next one. The only ones I've really thought of kind
00:05:35
Speaker
kind of reach that i mean there's elf but that i came in like 2003 you have arthur christmas which i do like arthur christmas i feel as if that earned its place a wee bit and klaus as well although that's heartbreaking but i love that film it's so this is so good but then at certain yeah close but closeuse is so good but I don't know if it's like pop culture in the same way like Elf you know i mean like that's the thing about like these Christmas films is they enter that pop culture yeah because I think when they came out it came out at a different time you know it's like they came out in theatres and things whereas as for Klaus I think it
00:06:07
Speaker
came out briefly in cinema but again know i think it was like this film maybe it came out a couple of days it wasn't really i remember my brother when we were looking through different christmas homes to watch one year and he said oh let's watch a christmas home and he saw klaus and he's one of these people he was like oh an animated film and he immediately switched it over and he didn't want anything to do with it it's like what is a great film it's so damn good check out the chats and nami episode but it was so damn good but again yeah it's because it's mostly streaming about like k-pop demon hunter stuff not for word of mouth and things i think that probably would have came and gone but probably gonna get a lot of k-pop demon hunter christmas presents this year to all the parents listening so i apologize for your plight i don't it's fantastic yeah it's a great one you have the vinyl i bought it the other week It's so good. I was actually telling my parents about that the other day because I was saying to them that you went into it. I didn't say about the Balan Wonderland thing. But
Themes and Tone of 'Red One'
00:07:06
Speaker
for anyone who doesn't know, obviously, why would you? This was a private... If anyone doesn't know, this private conversation we had. Because you were trying to get me things and you were joking. No, going to get you this particular game that's terrible. And I remember you were like, oh, do you have a vinyl player? And I was like, no, you know, I'd like one one day, maybe. But no, I don't have one. And you were like, damn, I was going to get you the keyboard. You know what doing? And I'm like, well, hold on now. Hold on second. I'm going to have to invest money in this hardware. i think So Martin can buy himself a Christmas present. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. But running up to the Christmas season, of course, we want to watch, you know, a good Christmas film. But this is one that have to admit, I remember it was advertised. And the only reason I found out about this initially, ironically enough, was because of Terminator Month. because of Adam and I, if I told you this. So if you listen back to, it was our Terminator, think, Genesis and Dark Fate episode that we did. It's like a two in one because I'm going to be honest, having one episode separate, it's not happening. J.K. Simmons was in Terminator Genesis. and Not a lot in it, but he was still in it. And I remember was like a rookie cop or something. And I think Adam said something like, have you seen him nowadays? He's all like jacked and everything. And I remember looking and I saw that exact screen of,
00:08:20
Speaker
him as santa but i didn't realize that was santa and i was like oh wow he looks like a jack santa and then i never realized that was why because he was training for was training for santa yeah was training for santa and read one of things to remember all i remember oh right that's cool it's coming out a hair mild fanfare i want to say it was all right yeah there wasn't really much conversation around this all it kind of came and went and that was it really wasn't it there was no pop culture impact or anything no memes legitimately the death of modern films if there's no memes coming of it well exactly because there was a film that i think it was ryan reynolds and will ferrell of all people back to him again they brought out one for apple tv and it's like they're taking a christmas carol okay i think it's called spirited or something can't remember. It's a good film. But again, I've got a great point. One who has Apple TV. No, I'm just joking. Slow Horses is great. My trial ran out, so I have to wait until they come back again. then they're like Yeah, I'm going to buy it. Or buy it, but I'm going to subscribe so I can watch the last season and then cancel. I've got that Godzilla show was to watch on there. Oh, yeah. Yeah, of course. Yeah. Apologies for that tangent there. But, you know, there was no memes or anything around that. So it kind of came and went. Good film, but not amazing, as it were. So you're right. This film kind of came and went. But yeah, see, without any further ado, will we just jump into it and see what makes this film so iconic? No, no, no, no,
00:09:49
Speaker
yeah exactly so we'll be right back of course after these christmas messages welcome to chatsunami a scottish variety podcast that discusses topics from gaming and films to anime in general interest join me your host satt tsunami as well as the rest of our chatunammi team for our takes on these very important pop cultures topics Sir, it's clearly a trap. I you accept your fate! That happens three times in the film. Every time that general goes, don't do this one thing, he goes, you know what I'ma do? It's the exact thing.
00:10:21
Speaker
He does as well. She had pointy teeth. What was that about? She looked like Bilbo when he wants the ring back. she t andt I just want the lightsaber one more time. Parasite says, no, you will get back into your office and work. No, says the man in Zoom. your Trousers are for the working man. You're bursting into your hotel room. Honey, we need to go.
00:10:44
Speaker
Leave the kids. We can milk an audition. Oh.
00:10:52
Speaker
That's the worst thing you've ever said on any of the episodes. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you can check us out at our website, chattsunami.com, as well as all good podcast apps. As always, stay safe, stay awesome, and most importantly, stay hydrated.
00:11:08
Speaker
Stay classy and have banana. This has been chattsunami. I'm sorry.
00:11:36
Speaker
hey kids! Are you looking for a new favourite fortnightly video game review podcast? Then boy howdy have we got the show for you! We take a different game every two weeks and we review them just like a book club.
00:11:48
Speaker
You can find us on all good podcasting platforms. And some of the sketchy ones too.
00:11:55
Speaker
Simply search for the Game Club Podcast and join the club today.
Plot and Action in 'Red One'
00:12:02
Speaker
And we are back. And before we go on, I'm going to turn it on to you, Martin. What Don't this to me. Are you going to... Please don't ask me the plot of this film.
00:12:13
Speaker
In a couple of words or less, not using chat GPT, what is Red One about? Because, in fact, no, sorry. Before we get on to it. Okay, I'll take the bullet for thank you. But in the compromise of what were you expecting out of Red One? Were you expecting how insane the plot of this film was? Absolutely not. So I didn't like watching the trailer and stuff. I didn't know how serious they were going to take it, which I think I've mentioned this to you before, but I think something being serious is so much funnier than something being funny. So like if they tried to make a comedy movie, I don't think it would have been very good. The fact that The Rock takes himself so seriously in this and he thinks he's making Gone with the Wind or something.
00:12:53
Speaker
It was good to me. It was so jarring. See the tone of this whole film. It's like, obviously, you've got Santa, oh, he's been kidnapped and everything. I mean, we've seen it in a million films, you know. Santa's been kidnapped, Santa's gone missing, etc, etc. But I did not expect how serious they were going to take it. You know, you've got Chris Evans, who is a hacker elite, as it were, you know, and he's working with shady organisations, his life's in a bit of a rut and everything. And he inadvertently tells these mythical terrorists, let's just call them, let's get the geopolitics out the way, okay? These guys are terrorists and they want to ruin the holly jolly season. These are the people GB News warned you about trying to steal Christmas. Oh, it's them that took the Merry Christmas off the side of the Tesco Christmas tree. I mean, thought it was just random people. No, no, they were ogres. They
00:13:42
Speaker
There were beasts from the North Pole. That is the only time, you know, I'll ever say something like that. So treasure it. So anyway, sorry, that horrifying image is... Yeah, so you've got him and then you've got, oh, Santa's been kidnapped and everything. He's, the rock's literally one day away from the diamond.
00:14:03
Speaker
That's so good. And it's just like, come out for one last ride with me on the sleigh and everything. And then, yeah, Santa gets kidnapped by a devious troll or it is an ogre actually. I think technically an ogre called Gorilla I think and there's a secret organisation called Mora who I cannot remember what they stand for it's like the mythical organisation of recovery association I don't know but they basically are responsible for all the mythical creatures on earth including Santa Claus who is a fixed point in this space-time continuum as we've been told. Again, I'm laughing but this is entirely straight played in the film. They're not laughing. Yeah, because they hunt down Chris Evans' character and they're like, oh yeah, you have to help us find Santa and he's obviously quite miffed at that. But specifically Wikipedia calls him a Santa skeptic.
00:14:53
Speaker
thought It's so funny that's incredible because, and I'm totally not googling what M-O-R-E, yeah, Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority is a clandestine multilateral military organisation. Look us up on Wikipedia, this is the plot, the first line, that protects a secret peace treaty between humans and mythological creatures. Callum Drift, head of Santa's. Peter plans to retire after one last Christmas run, having been disillusioned with people's increasingly toxic behaviour, exemplified by Santa's growing naughty list. But on Christmas Eve, an unidentified black ops team breaks into the North Pole complex and kidnaps Santa. Mora director Zoe Harlow's subordinates discover that Jack O'Malley, a freelance black hat hacker, compromised Santa's location. Right, that's the first paragraph of wikipedia right and i know that sounds quite lazy to read out but i don't think my description could do just as this is the whole setup that santa's been kidnapped they have to go find him so the rock aka dwayne johnson aka probably the scurge of parents everywhere who have ever watched moana what can i say you're welcome haha so sorry please subscribe to patreon
00:16:07
Speaker
subscribe to patreon and i won't start singing but they end up teaming up and everything and they go to different locations all over the world and as you said this film takes us itself so seriously i cannot believe it i thought you were joking like oh yeah this is a film that takes itself so seriously but i think if they didn't take it seriously then it would have flopped wouldn't it end anything the rock over the time has become more and more less funny which makes him more funny to me he Yeah. you what I mean. Because obviously he to do a lot of comedy and stuff, but now he's so serious. And i know this film has jokes on it, but re-skinned, this is a Fast and Furious movie. It really You know what mean?
00:16:41
Speaker
This is Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin and Hobbes. Hobbes is short, sorry. Calvin and Hobbes. The wee boy with the dragon. Yeah, because I was going to say, like, I got you your favourite DVD. Oh, no.
00:16:53
Speaker
The scene at the start where... Well, it's not the start. A couple scenes in where Santa gets kidnapped. This is like the first half hour, by the way. We have to talk about Santa doing this workout first. But the scene where Santa gets kidnapped is an absolute epic car chase. It is a full-on multi-car. The Rock's going through the Futurama tubes. Scooters going about. It is like a genuinely huge set. Like an expensive set piece. The likes of an 80s film would have killed for this kind of set piece. Oh, yeah.
00:17:18
Speaker
And they're throwing it away on Jason Sanna. It's so good. And the fact, I mean, spoilers for later in the film, the whole thing's a set up. So it's like, how the hell did that happen? It is so good the way that they do it. And the action is surprisingly competent in this film, which I know it sounds weird to say because it's a big budget Amazon thing and it could have easily gone wrong with everything involved. But I was so surprised, you know, that the action is so fluid. You've literally got a scene where they're fighting snowmen and everything and they're exploding. That's a great scene. seen that oh that is incredible is it really like i'm a big sucker for like environmental fights yeah around them and they're trying to melt the snowmen and using bits like from the grill and all that it's such a stupid scene and it's genius it's so stupid and it's so brilliant it's just the way that they really take advantage of everything it's a bit like i can't remember the episode but something you and i have talked about in the past where it's like animated shows that take advantage of the fact that they're animated you know like we love to see it rather than just saying let's do a straight lace character study or something and it's like well if you want to do that get real actors and don't have shrek but do war and peace with shrek kind of thing it's like weird i don't know why i need that together no sorry citizen kane was right i should be yeah sorry that's more relatable to the kids than that 80 hundred year old i can't remember when citizen kane came out because yes as you know haven't seen it is that a christmas film no okay fine well i can't watch it this month thank you martin so i feel like i've been duped
00:18:41
Speaker
Yes, this is the reason we're doing this episode. So I can justify not watching Citizen Kane again. But yeah, the whole film, as we said, is a globetrotting event. You know, they go to Aruba. Well, I use Aruba in air quotes. They go to see the Krampus of all things. And then they go back to the North Pole. There's these massive set pieces. You go from gothic horror to these sandy beaches to the winter wasteland of the North Pole. It is absolutely insane. And I will save my thoughts on the Krampus for later, but it's just incredible. It's quite visually appealing yeah it's really nice film that when you mentioned at the start of the jk simmons workout pictures yeah they came out in honestly like 2023 they must have they were really early they worked in this film for a long time obviously filming bits over the summer and stuff because is visually very interesting film they've got lots of different locations different scenes yeah like you say there's horror movie stuff in it all these like random woodland scenes there's like the beaches cities it's like this huge budget for this very very unusual film i mean unusual's a word for it for sure i didn't have a amount of words Honestly, it's just, it's a baffle, in a good way, but it's one of these films that's like, who thought of this idea? But then you look at it and it feels more like, and I can't believe I'm saying this, it's like a buff version of Arthur Christmas. That's what it feels like at times. I'm like, all right, they've trapped Santa in the snow globe and all of this mythological society. society has to bring him back. They even have the headless horseman in at one point saying, did you kidnap Santa? I don't know. It's just everything slots into place and I love all the more for it. I just think it incredible. It the way they do it, the way everything comes together. It spectacular.
00:20:17
Speaker
I think 10 out of 10 film, no notes. But yeah, it's just, it's fascinating to see how this film unfolds because there's a scene where it's like, oh, we have to go see Grilla's ex boyfriend or something who is Santa's brother and i was I was on the edge of my seat. You know the way people watch those trashy TV shows and Netflix and things and it's like, you know, selling Manhattan or selling things? It's like, oh, who would ever be interested in this? That's exactly how I was because it's like, you have to go see Santa's brother. Alright, is it going to be like another guy? Oh, you might know his name. This was like Doctor Who hype in years. You might know him as Krampus. I was honestly, I was like, oh, Krampus! Endgame has nothing on this. Endgame has zero. Endgame and what's the new one coming out? Doomsday or something? Whatever it is, that will never live up to Red One. It's just the hype I felt when I'm like, oh my god, I'm going to see Krampus. And can I just say, the practical effects and the visual effects, my god, they nailed that down. Krampus looks amazing in this. And I've never seen a Krampus film. I'm going to be honest, I don't know if you have. to compare and contrast. There's one horror film, isn't there? Yeah. think seen the horror movie. Yeah, because a lot of the things that they bring out in this, they're all very kind of Germanic and Scandinavian, aren't they? You know, like Gorilla is, I don't know. There's those kind of very ancient legends and things about punishing the wicked. Krampus is definitely European, but you know, all of these kind of myths and things, and it's cool the way that they blend them all
Mythology and Character Arcs
00:21:43
Speaker
together. I really like that. There's when they go to Krampus' lair and it feels like something out of lab doesn't it it's so funny and i lot all love it because evans falls at the first hurdle multiple times and like don't touch anything that changes they're like why would we that and then he's straight in his shape steals a guy's like it's so dumb but it's so brilliant oh it yeah and i love chris evans character can we talk about him for a second because there's a scene that forgot to mention at the beginning where as a child t tries to tell everybody that santa's not real and his uncle at the time catches him he's like doing?
00:22:15
Speaker
and And the young version of Chris Evans is like, oh, I'm trying to prove Santa's not real, blah, blah, blah. And then he grows up to be really cynical and just an ass. He steals someone's coffee at the beginning and everything. He goes to steal information from this university. He ruins a perfectly good yoga mat in the process and a good sound system. And my favourite bit was C seeing the baby, think. that's such a good bit i love that so much i think that's the turning point i went this is gonna be a good film because it's like you look at it you thought no he's not gonna be that cartoonishly evil taking candy from a baby and he takes candy from a baby or like 10 out of 10 asshole we are a great don't think any other film would be like that's too stupid yeah and this film's like no no not only is we doing that we're playing it straight Yeah.
00:23:00
Speaker
Like he is stealing candy from an actual baby. So good. i love it. I don't know why. I just, I love how cartoonishly evil he is. Or not evil, but just misguided as a way. And he's had a son called Dylan with another person that I think he says he never got married to her. They just had the baby together and she's married to this really good guy. And that is something I do like about it because correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they get together in the end. He just learns to be a better dad to his son. No hallmark here. Yeah, there's no getting together and she realises the error of her ways. or yeah, well, I say error of her ways, you know, it's his way. I feel like the guy that's literally stole candy from a baby is probably the one in the wrong here
00:23:39
Speaker
But you know that way is always like, ooh, it turns out you're a great guy, huh? after all kind of thing but no fortunately they don't do that and i really like it all the more for that but yeah i do like that i think that's a very fresh twist on the whole santa's gone missing story as i said i just i love all the action in this film i think the action as we said is incredible the technology is incredible as well where he's got the thing where it's like he turns toys into that's inspired that's very ant-man yeah he turns toys into real things like he's got hot wheels that turns into the big sports car the only thing i don't like and it's such a chekhov's gun is remember he buys all the toys and he buys the rock and sock and robots that help defend off krampus's goons as it were but the thing i don't like about that scene is he gets a big monopoly board and he never uses a monopoly and that really It irritates me because it's like, well, is that for money? Or is he going to get the Scotty Dom? What are you doing with that Monopoly board, Dwayne Johnson? What are you doing? Krampus, as I said, absolutely incredible character. love the whole gothic, kind of grim Christmas around him. Love it. 10 out of 10, no notes. And especially when he pops up at the end. I... I don't know about you, this is such a niche thing, but love that trope. See, when it's like the last minute, the heroes are the last legs and everything, nothing could rescue them. And then all of a sudden, another massive ship comes in and fires. They did it in Halo, done it in this. I love it. I love that trope. genuinely is where he comes in on a ship and the ship's incredible like there's no space ship but you know what i mean like yeah and it's like they're chanting his theme song it's like i was so close to cheering i was like grab it he made it and granted he gets his ass kicked when he comes down it doesn't matter the entrance alone it's like you that scene the megamind where it's like you've forgot one thing I love it. 10 out of 10. Something you were also mentioning about the actors in this film, Lucy Liu's in this. Didn't realise she was going to be in in 12. There's a who's who of actors that can't see acting. don't know if that makes sense. So have this thing, but that honestly just makes the film funnier to me. So I have this thing with certain actors in The Rock's one of them. Dwayne Johnson, Batiste does another one. Lucy Liu definitely. I can't see them anything but the actors not the character but honestly because there's so many people in this film that i like that like jp simmons chris evans all of them i don't see them as characters just see them and i think that makes it even funnier because yeah dwayne johnson is dwayne johnson than any film you know there's no getting out of it chris evans he's a hit or a miss i think he can do it yeah he can do it when he wants to but you still see chris evans you know as chris evans jk simmons yeah can see jk simmons as jay jona jameson because
00:26:30
Speaker
I was trying to remember who was in this was like oh yeah Dwayne Johnson Captain America J. Jonah Jameson Lucy Liu from Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angels yeah oh that's a low blow Lucy Liu clearly are magna moving or citizen gain but you know you've got all these people and you're like yeah you can definitely see them as those characters but at the same time it kind of adds to the yeah i think i think it doesn't make it worse by any means yeah like said this whole film to me is so weird it looks really becomes incredible i think everything that should be wrong about this film makes it more right 100 if it was more cynical a film than i would critique it but the fact it's so stupid that Because the thing is, can't believe it's like the male version of a Hallmark film. You know what mean? It's like one that's so stupid, but you can enjoy the silliness and embrace it. Whereas for a Hallmark film, for example, it's like you can't really buy into it unless, you know, you really like Hallmark films, which there are a lot of people. I think I brought this up last week. There's actually a Facebook group of Hallmark fans. Yeah. It is so weird that you're, again, you know, I don't want to knock anybody's interest, but you're reading it and it does feel like dead internet theory. You're like, are they? real people or are they memeing are they you know is it genuine i don't know i genuinely i do not know but hey oh fair enough i guess so you've mentioned no notes a few times i do have notes about one that you'll see oh do tell i just like to bring up just now i'm to show the picture this is the picture that was in the rounds oh yeah so this is the workout scene yeah and i do have some notes do tell that i'd like to share Number one.
00:28:05
Speaker
So this this is a really weird scene because obviously The Rock is in this film and he's probably also doing some kind of production. We don't know how much, but every film he's in, he's obviously involved in yeah something behind the scenes. So like nothing gets past him. In this scene, Joe and Jamie Jameson's doing shoulder press for the barbell. First all, he's done wraps around the barbell to improve his grip to make it look like a candy cane. Excellent touch. Of course. What's really, really about it is he's on a bench and he's sitting upright and it's just like, I'm not an expert in workouts by any means. Yeah. Compared to The Rock, for example. to think I know more than the average person, but... Well, yeah, you know more than me, of course. But usually if you do shoulder pressure, you have your back supported. You would just do a different exercise with a flat bench and the whole set up's just slightly iffy. And I don't know, I'd love to see it behind the scenes for this, why they settled on this particular weirdness thing, because of a thousand exercises they could have picked, this is the most awkward looking one. So like I don't know if they couldn't figure out a way of getting both his face and Dwayne Johnson's face on screen at the same time. Yeah, is it not though because they want to show off Santa being muscly, maybe? Or to show off, oh, he's still in shape. Or do a bicep curl or some curl squats or something just outrageous Like it's such an... I don't know It's not bad It's very very strange which is very funny again it just adds to the weirdness of this whole film It just seems... Yeah, it seems bizarre I have to say They just had to get the rocks facing it think Yeah, have to admit, The Rock does seem, and I mean, rightfully we so, I suppose, the work he's put into the industry and whatnot, but it does feel as if he is very much, look at me, look at my face. This is the film with a polar bear as, like, in the muscle of the M.O.R.E. I don't even know, because he belongs to an organization that's the ELF, which is like, oh, elf, and, you they make fun of that, and I love how, although they poke fun at themselves, they don't do in an obnoxious way to be like oh the ELF oh look at you know it's not whiny kind of thing but it's just I think i as well as you brought up it's just it's so serious the way that Dwayne Johnson reacts to everything he's like yes I'm the commander of the ELF what you find this funny and everything an ELF has its own NASA control center The whole thing's like, just on the subject of it taking itself so seriously, they do a lot of explaining things that happen in real life. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like, again, in the most serious way. yeah. It's like, yeah, Santa needs cookies, but they're super calorie dense high protein cookies, and they do have a naughty list, but it's magical, and that's how that works. And he has to drink the milk, and like, it's just so... Can I just say, I love the lore building of this. That's what I mean, everything has to get mentioned explained. Remember when it's like, oh yeah, the reason that there is a naughty list is because his brother Krampus wanted to punish all the naughty children and things. And I thought that was so funny. It's like, oh yeah, so he banished him from the North Pole and everything. I forgot they explained that before you meet him as well. Yeah. That's why he spent so long. And honestly, when they said Krampus, I was expecting just a guy, you know? But it's like a full-on demon goat man kind of thing. It's like, this is incredible. This is a 10 out of 10. As I said, the manly Hallmark film of the year.
00:31:05
Speaker
And I hate to say that, but it's true, though, because it's like, it's so stupid. It shouldn't work. But it does. Everything falls into place. And as we said, you know, the seriousness of it. And one of my favourite scenes, I don't know if you've brought this up yet, is they have a throwaway line where it's like, Santa hates macarons or something. Yeah. And, oh, I love that so much. He phones Mrs. Claus and it's like, oh, what are you doing? He's like, oh, I'm just baking Santa some macaroons. He's like, oh, that's great. I can't wait to be back. We'll send you your best wishes. We'll keep you updated. He puts down the phone and he's like, that's not her.
00:31:36
Speaker
The Terminator picture is so good. Your family's dead. And then immediately after that, the shapeshifter turns into the guy and he goes, they're onto us. I lost it. I was like, this film, 10 out of 10. Incredible. There's a scene after, again, so this is the kind of thing that would wind me up in any other film, but there's a scene after they leave Krampus and they're driving. This is like to lead into the finale because they've obviously gone, we've had a big spot with Krampus and then we've got to do the finale. How do we get them there? There's just a piano in the middle of the road. he I have to play. And he just goes over and starts sitting.
00:32:07
Speaker
no, no, we have to stop and play this piano. And he's like, why? the mark Because what I love is even with the straightaway seriousness of The Rock, it's like, he asks them, have you ever seen a magical piano? And even he's like, no And that's how absurd the situation is. And usually that would be the point in a film where you'd be like, oh, this is a serious moment. You know, this is the moment where, gosh, candy canes are going to hit the fan as it were. But it's just so silly. But what love as well is, so the whole, something we haven't mentioned, is Greal's plan is to trap all the naughty people in the world in snow globes.
Humor and Narrative Tropes in 'Red One'
00:32:43
Speaker
Only the nice people will be there. But obviously that's going to encompass 90% of the world because we're all made. the sex of course and first guy that they get to try it out is so cartoonishly evil love it he's yelling a ticket inspector he's yelling down the phone i don't care grandma's being in the hospital her to take the train and everything it's like It is so cartoonishly just horrible. We never see that guy again, by the way.
00:33:08
Speaker
There's a scene going back to the piano that Chris Evans is like, and I know his name's like Jack Comale or something, but yeah, no one cares. It's Chris Evans. So Chris Evans plays the piano. He's like, have to, you know, rescue my son because Grilla kidnaps him. And they're both in the snow globe. They have this very touching moment. And I do find it hilarious him trying to explain the film up until this point. And his son just be like, what?
00:33:31
Speaker
What are you talking about? As anyone would. Yeah, even the audience are like, that actually happened. That actually did happen, oh my god. At this point, he's like, as you said, he was fighting snowmen, which have freezing powers. I love that scene so much. He's been fighting Krampus and such. And then have this warm heart to heart, and their change of heart means that they're no longer naughty, so they get to Eve, the snow globe. But never see that other guy. He never had a change of heart. Like, he's stuck in there. Yeah, I guess he's stuck with Gorilla, I suppose. i thought oh it's so funny yeah that's how the film really ends they have this huge ragnarok-esque yeah gigantic marvel fight ending yeah and i love that the end where they're trying to uncouple the reindeer i just love that whole sequence at the end where they're trying to stop grilla from so basically she's on this runway again i just say the very beginning it's so weird that santa's being accompanied by it's f-16 you know what the fighter jet is you like the americans Fight for Jax is like, Red One, you're all clear. And I'm like, oh, I love this film so much. It's so good. Yeah, they unironically dropped the title. Yeah, but yeah, it's like they're aiming for this portal that's going to, you know, send all the snow globes. I just love it so much. And she's riding the sleigh and everything. And Chris Evans is trying to kick the hell out the boat that's holding them together. And yeah, as we said, we've got the Krampus coming in to slip down. This all sounds fake. It is so real.
00:34:55
Speaker
It's the only reason that I haven't quit my Amazon Prime membership just now because the film is so good. And again, you're sitting there going, I can't believe this film's real. And what i love about, and I'm saying this non-ironically, I love how fresh this film is in terms of its interpretation of Christmas because I've watched a good couple of contemporary films, you know, like That Christmas. I've said it before, i don't really like that. and there's a couple of other interpretations that are you know for better or worse they try to adapt things that have already been done because as i said at the very beginning we've had a lot of oh santa's been kidnapped kind of stories nightmare before christmas being one of the main examples so you're like how can you make this different again the reason i think of arthur christmas is it's one of the first films that i felt it truly was bringing santa into the technological age as silly as that sounds no no exactly Because yeah, used to be back in the past, obviously Santa was, oh, just wooden toys. And then it's like, how you explain to kids now he's got a factory shipping out Playstations and things like that. So it was cool to see that, but it was cool to see how he fit into that world. old And it was also cool to see that they're talking about the naughty list and how the Rocks character is just like, oh, I'm so disillusioned by there's more naughty than nice people. I mean, that is true without getting too deep in. And, you know, like, there are a lot more people who are disillusioned or going to act out more, especially after the lockdowns and things. And it was a really cool thing to add. It's a Christmas film where the rock slaps Krampus
Climactic Action and Speculations
00:36:25
Speaker
silly. As we said, an ogre slaps Krampus. There's a lot of slap in Krampus. Because that's one of the jokes in it, that they celebrate Krampus slouse or something like that. it's like a holiday for Krampus. And it's one of those, a you've probably seen it online, the slap competitions where it's like they get chalk on their hands and they just batter the hell out somebody's face and then they just collapse. And that's exactly what it is. It's like Krampus slaps. nearly beats him but because of that's the only thing that slightly spoils it is because of the rock's infamous clause no pun intended of his contract that he can't get beaten like he can kind of falter in a fight but he can't truly get defeated in a fight so yeah that kind of ruins it because you know obviously and obviously it's a christmas film yeah he's the good yeah but again at the very end i was like how's this film gonna end and yeah trampas was not my bingo card not gonna lie but yeah seems like overall thing what are your thoughts about this film did you think that this film despite the critics you know panning this and everything did you think this was an adequate if not satisfactory as it were did you think this was a good film to add to i suppose the pantheon of christmas films It's so unabashedly weird and strange and like you said it it does so much to try to build up low and I do really like that thing we mentioned with The Rock being like a cynical guy about the naughty list and like they have quite, don't want to call it dark, that's the right word, but they have captured that kind of modern cynicism about things but kept it quite funny yeah it's just, it's so 2024.
00:37:57
Speaker
And yet a lot of the tropes do feel quite old, but somehow slot into it. As you were saying, and I mentioned it earlier, that The Rock's character, I think it's Cal, he ends up, it's his last day on the job and everything is one day away from retirement. And that's exactly like, you know, all these 70s, police dramas. It's like, oh, he was a detective, it's his last day in the job, but he's got one more on him kind of thing. And again it shouldn't work all of these conflicting types of tropes they shouldn't work but they do and it's just incredible i'm not gonna lie it's just it's fantastic and i get why the critics don't like it because i get you watch hundreds of films and things that are very funny and silly to us i think you do have to the right mood for this kind of film or have the right attitude to enjoy it i can imagine if this was your day job and you had to watch this film be like yeah i get that but like if you go in expecting something that is i I don't if you take it for what it is exactly at face value, it's hilarious. One thing I am curious about, and we obviously mentioned few times, we mentioned the secret organization, Mora. Is this a cinematic universe in the making? Is this gonna be Easter one and Halloween one and- I did have a thought about that. It feels like they don't- They don't explicitly set up for it. Yeah, but they don't explicitly rule it, you know? Yeah. It's left very open-ended that this could be something they revisit. I don't think because of the reception of it, I don't think they'll do it, but... You're probably right. They definitely left the door open because it surprised me when all of a sudden we were looking at the Headless Horseman at one point and I was like... It's not a Christmas thing. And then they do the overarching, oh, it's for everybody in the myth world. And I love the idea. I think the idea is cool. It's very... Very Torchwood. Yeah, exactly. I'm glad we're on the same wave out there. Because they actually fight fairies at one point, which is such a weird episode. In the end, they don't even win against the spoilers, but they don't win against the fairies. Season one of Torchwood's been spoiled for me. It's been what? One, two, three, four. Oh, God, it's going to be 20 years next year. Jesus, that is... Yes, hashtag I feel old to you. Let her go. But yeah, overall, I get why people panned it and I get why other people might not enjoy it, but I think for us, we're on the same wavelength where we just want a big dumb action movie and this is all those things and it's perfect. Yeah, because as I said, I feel a bit bad, you know, praising this film and the hating on the Hallmark film. Yeah.
00:40:28
Speaker
goofy and oh look it's supposed to be serious with high stakes and i mean my partner miss tsunami and i we watched one recently where it was like a struggling writer who went to this town think it was called aurora or something can't remember the name of the film put any generic you know title here but it was like they went to a town called aurora to see the northern lights insert your own steam hams reference i wasn't i wasn't saying a thing the whole thing's like, ooh, we're not going to see the lights because I can feel it. And, you know, it's just, I try to be serious, but also kind of silly, but not in a good way. And as you know, that's a whole episode for another day. But this film, it knows it's goofy. It knows it's over the top, but it wants to make a spectacle. It wants to make it a show. So if you're looking for something like A Muppet's Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, those kind of tier, those are leagues above. Those are the serious slash kind of I mean they have got their goofy moments but at the same time they are the top tier Christmas films so I don't think it reaches those heights same with Klaus as well know love that film so much but for ironically enough I don't know if we mentioned it earlier this is J.K. Simmons second role as Santa Claus the first of course being Klaus he's a good Santa Claus not gonna lie you should do again make a trilogy the jk simmons trilogy imagine the whiplash going from close to this to whiplash make the trilogy happen whoever owns it honestly it's not a shame they're just being a dumb action film again i hate using the phrase oh it's a popcorn flick but i mean it is yeah I think as well, like, Christmas films need an element of popcorn flick
Conclusion: 'Red One' as a Holiday Classic
00:42:04
Speaker
to them. It's okay to talk during this and it's okay to maybe go put up some decorations while it's on and you don't miss much. But that's part of it as well. I think that's okay because Christmas films should be social and they should be laid back and popcorn flicks the right word for I don't want to sit down and watch Citizen Kane. Not that you would know, but it reminds me of Oh, so that's not what you got me for Christmas? no, no. Oh, okay, I know what I said, I don't know what, it's like really serious movie that have to pay attention to fully because Christmas is so true and it's fun and there's different lights and, you know, you want a bit of that with Christmas think Muppets Christmas Carol, not to do an episode with Muppets Christmas Carol, you've done it, but like that nails the perfect thing between it's a story but also you don't have to be there the whole time because you're chatting to your family and it's Christmas and you're wrapping presents and you're doing this. Red One is the same level of like 94% of my attention. Yeah. Yeah, The Muppets, I have to say. Not that we're going to stay here another hour and do a Muppets dissection. I mean, we could do. The Muppets is one of those films, and it's maybe one of the slight pitfalls of this film, is I don't feel as if it's very quotable. It's got some, like, really memorable moments, but I don't feel as if it is. I mean, even when I was cleaning the house today and doing things for Christmas, I find myself quoting to Miss Tsunami, especially, a lot of... the Muppets Christmas Carol you know we order a takeaway and I'll say to this place the founder of the feast and then you don't follow up by the founder of the feast indeed it's like so good every time I want to be dramatic don't know if I told you that probably I have no reason to tell you this but it's like times where you know it's like not an overly serious situation and then I pull out the card of life is made up of meetings and parties
00:43:42
Speaker
We will never forget not doing the dishes. Or something like that. And she's like, stop doing that. I'm like, never. You don't understand. Completely off topic, but did you notice that in the background of the chats that video, yeah. I've been looking this entire time. I've been across from Funko Pop figures of Tiny Tim and from Cratchit from The Muppets Christmas Carol. I mean, try not to stare at them. Yeah, brother got me them a couple of years ago and now have an excuse to put them I'm like, oh, they are so good. God bless everyone. Tiny Tim who did not die. That's great. No, I can't do this. Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry if I was quoting this film. Such a good film. But yeah, I wouldn't say that Red One kind of reaches those heights. But at the same time, as you said, it's one of those put your tree up films. Put it on in the background and come back for the explosions. The scenes with the kids are fine. Talking, whatever. Yeah. You're there because you're doing other things and it's a good time. Yeah, there's no real scene in this film. I don't feel as if this film drags, even though it's like... It's a long film for what is. It's two hours. Yeah, it doesn't feel it. I remember put this on, again, ironically enough, in the background, and I was like, yeah, that's absolutely fine. And then I looked at the thing, I was like, two hours?
00:44:52
Speaker
How long is this film? And I was like, all right, that'll be fine. But yeah, it's an absolutely enjoyable experience. All I can say is the only thing I regret about this film is I didn't watch it sooner. And I said this to you, but I genuinely regret it because it's such a good film. And don't get me wrong, it would only have been last year I would have watched it. But I regret not watching it last year because it's so good. Again, wouldn't say I'd watch this film every year, but as a kind of back and forth thing, it's definitely worth checking out. Definitely think it's one of those films that always think of. We used to do the bad movie club. Yeah. It feels like a good one of those. Get your friends over. Just watch some silly action and enjoy yourself. No, absolutely. I wouldn't say it's as bad as the films we watched before. No, no, no. But in, like, more of a social film than that. Yeah, absolutely. Saying that note, Martin, thank you so much for introducing me to this one. As I said, I wouldn't say it's like, oh, I have to have it in the Christmas rotation every year, but it's worthy of it, though. It's worthy of at least checking it out. I wouldn't really call this a family film, though. I think there's some moments where, obviously for younger children, big no-no. But for teenagers, I would say this is good for teenagers and above, because it's kind of in between of kids who are maybe too old for certain films, except The Muppet Christmas Carol, of course. A Muppet Christmas Carol isn't, that's for all ages and forever, but... Yeah, it's good for that kind of thing. It's good kind of transitional film without being too overly adult. Like, it's not Violent Night or something like that. It's an action film, but it's like a very teenage-y action movie. Kids that are obsessed with superheroes will probably like this one. Oh, 100%. Not like toddlers. Kids and young teenagers that are obsessed with superheroes will love this. On that note, yeah, thank you so much for coming on this episode. The penultimate episode of the year, would you believe? Do you feel old yet? I do feel old, but feel Christmassy. And that's the opposite of feeling old. Probably doesn't help that we're sitting right beside a Christmas tree right now while filming this. Or I say filming, recording, you know what I mean. Well, maybe next year we could do like a video podcast. That's actually one of my, well, I say New Year's resolutions, but when I get my act together, we should probably do. But yeah, no, we could definitely do that at some point. Yeah, Patreon exclusive. Pay me to see my face. Which is so weird because I know this is a tangent before we wrap up, but every time I go to these... comic cons and things obviously chat tsunami's relative i don't want to give myself a big head to be like oh it's so big on the indie podcasting here but you know it's notable i would say people know of it but when i'm there in person obviously because i don't show my face i'm behind the red panda thing nobody really knows me so they're kind of like who are you
00:47:25
Speaker
It's like, you know, Shatsunami from Shatsunami. They're like, I have no idea. I've got no idea who you are. But until then, before we do that, before we get ready for the holiday season, where can the lovely Pandalurians who are probably wrapping presents as we speak, where can they hear your content, see your content? Yeah, where can they find you? Yeah, so best places to find me is over at Instagram or on TikTok. Just search Martin McAllister, you will find me. Kind think this year I am preparing for photo shoot and I'm doing like a big wrap-up of what I've done and achieved this year. So it's probably a good time to follow because you'll get to find out more about me really quickly. Apart from that, I've been on several Chats for Ami episodes, so you can just scroll back and find me if you want to hear more of me. Or shout out to our friend, Scottish Wrestling Network podcast, because I've worked for him a few times as well. that's the big places to find me so i'll throw back to you thank you for having me on as you were saying if you want to check out more episodes featuring our lovely selves including our unofficial sub series of we sit in a car and film in glasgow that's how new shit is we'll do a new one we'll a new one soon i will need to actually
00:48:28
Speaker
you doing next week? now Yeah, then you can check us out on their website, chatsanami.com, as well as all good podcast apps. I also want to thank our amazing Pandalurians, Robotic Battle Toaster, Ghosty, and Cryptic 1991. Thank you so much for supporting the show. But if you would like access to exclusive festive and juicy content, why it's juicy, I don't know. Go find it for yourself. We've got early access. We've got Let's Plays, Twitch VODs, bloopers, all the like. Then you can check us out at our Patreon page. patreon.com forward slash chat tsunami this podcast is of course a proud member of the pop hat collective for more information check us out at our twitter slash x page at pop hat collect definitely check it out because we'll be doing a lot more in 2026 but as always pandalurians thank you all so so much for listening and on behalf of both of us we hope you have a fantastic christmas and indeed a happy new year so as always stay safe stay awesome, stay hydrated and most importantly eat every mince pie you can find why did you say that so sinister it's like this isn't a request it's an instruction an instruction put your desktop like ah Santa doesn't like a quitter you get put the naughty list for legal called reasons that's a joke for legal reasons I own naughty list