Red Notice is a 2021 action comedy written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Thurber may not be a household name, but his feature-film directorial debut Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, has reached cult classic status. If you haven’t seen that movie, you either live under a rock or hate movies, perhaps both. He also directed the 2013 comedy We’re the Millers, as well as the action comedy Central Intelligence (2016), starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, and the action thriller Skyscraper (2018), also starring Dwayne Johnson.

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 (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him smack dab in the middle of a daring heist where he's forced to partner with the world's greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world's most wanted art thief, "The Bishop" (Gal Gadot).

The full cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Ivan Mbakop.

Red Notice was originally set to release exclusively in theaters by Universal Pictures, but Netflix acquired the distribution rights on July 8th, 2019, with the film set to hit theaters November 5th before makings its debut on the streaming service November 12th.

THE GOOD

I was admittedly concerned going into see this movie because of all the negative feedback that it received, more or less expecting a lazy cash grab with big names for that reason. I made sure to see it in theaters so that I would get the full affect, and I have to say I had a blast with this movie. I don’t know if critics are just upset about the conspiracy that is daylight savings time, or maybe they are just angry about gas prices, which in that case I get it. But between Eternals (full review here), and Red Notice, movies are getting unfairly bashed, and in turn limiting how many people are making their way out to the theaters, which really is too bad. I was entertained from start to finish, I laughed out loud several times, and more than anything else I had a ton of fun with this movie.

The story was intriguing and kept me on my toes, always wanting to see what was going to happen next. By the end I felt like I was on a wild ride, and the finale which is the perfect setup for a sequel actually felt satisfying instead of making me feel like this movie was just a springboard for the next. I mean sure, I didn’t walk out of the theater blown away by a crazy storyline or a performance I knew would take home an Oscar, but I walked out fully satisfied and pleased that I ignored the negative reviews and gave this movie a chance. This is an action comedy that does a really nice job blending all of the necessary elements making for a very well-rounded and extremely entertaining experience. Most of all I really enjoyed the relationship and non-stop banter between Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, two of my favorite actors working today.

On the technical side of things Red Notice does a really nice job and keeps things in the positive column. I thought the cinematography was great for this type of movie, the camera work was creative and helped to keep that stylish vibe they were going for, and the action sequences were a blast and often hilarious. Rawson Marshall Thurber did a nice job behind the camera, and maintained what seemed to be an enjoyable working environment throughout production judging by the interviews I have watched. I especially enjoyed a fight scene between Reynolds, Johnson, and Gadot, which had me smiling ear to ear. I really liked the high energy soundtrack, and thought composer Steve Jablonsky did a great job. The soundtrack, which closes out the film with Notorious B.I.G. which is definitely a statement move, also includes music from Ed Sheeran (who also has a funny cameo, sorry in advance if you consider that a spoiler), Beastie Boys, and Tony Hatch’s timeless classic song, Downtown.

The cast is without question the primary driving force for this movie, and that tends to be the case when you have three big name actors like this. By no means are we treated with any career defining performances, but everyone holds their own and brings enough to the movie to warrant their involvement. I also thought the overall chemistry was fantastic, and it was obvious they had a great time working on this movie. Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson get the majority of the screen-time, and I could honestly watch these two all day. That’s not weird, by the way. Reynolds is the comic relief, with the majority of his jokes coming at the expense of Johnson’s character. You will often find yourself concerned about Reynolds and his well being, because well, Johnson is a very, very big man. Gal Gadot is as beautiful and talented as ever, and she does a great job staying one step ahead of Reynolds and Johnson. I was always curious how you properly pronounce her last name, and according to the internet it is pronounced “Guh-dot”, meaning the T is in fact NOT silent which surprised me. You learn something new everyday. I really enjoyed Ritu Arya’s role as the relentless Interpol agent. Most people will recognize her as Lila Pitts in The Umbrella Academy.

Even though Red Notice is now streaming on Netflix, people are still taking advantage of the theater experience which truly warms my heart. A group of people walked out of the theater ahead of me and started talking about how much they enjoyed the movie, and it just brought me back to the pre-pandemic days which is a good feeling. I was a little late seeing it so I was in the theater the day it made its debut on Netflix, and I was impressed with how many people were in the theater. All kidding aside, a movie like this will be best in theaters as far as the action sequences, but whether you watch it in theaters or at home, I think you’ll genuinely enjoy it. Red Notice is a popcorn flick through and through, and I really don’t see how that is a bad thing.

THE BAD

As you’ve likely gleaned from the review so far, yeah I used the word gleaned, this movie is a blast but it is not without its issues. Most glaring in my opinion is the issues with the writing. With a cast like this, the sky is the limit. At the same time, you live and die by how well you utilize such a talented cast. For the most part things come together pretty well, but opportunities were squandered as it relates to the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds as their relationship developed throughout the film. At times it seemed forced, and I felt like they struggled to effectively develop the complex relationship between the two as far as their respective upbringings and how they became who they are, which was an important element of the story arch between the two leads. I will also point out that the plot twists may have played a part in this, so if I am unfairly criticizing my guy RMT (Rawson Marshall Thurber, of course), I apologize in advance.

Also the storyline itself is not without its flaws if you really try and pick it apart. Some of the plot twists feel a bit forced, although they did catch me off guard each time. Perhaps I am slipping in my old age, but that is a conversation for another day. But with that being said, Red Notice is an action comedy first, and heist flick second. And in my humble opinion, that’s more than okay. You can enjoy the cool twists and turns while still maintaining that popcorn entertainment element that allows you the opportunity to just sit back, relax, and take it all in. Sometimes with a movie, what more could you ask for?

THE VERDICT

An infectious action comedy packed full of plot twists and great one-liners, Red Notice takes full advantage of a star-studded cast and is absolutely deserving of a sequel. I genuinely enjoyed this movie, and I’m having a hard time understanding why most critics had such an issue with it. Was the bar set too high because of the cast? Were they expecting another Ocean’s Eleven? I really don’t get it. I mean sure, Thurber isn’t exactly Scorsese, but I think as a director he does pretty damn well for himself, and clearly he’s fun to work with considering this is the 3rd time Dwayne Johnson has collaborated with him. Bottom line, I’m looking forward to repeat viewings so I can continue to appreciate all the humor and just the pure fun that is Red Notice. I personally saw the movie in theaters, which is of course the best way to see it in my opinion, but if you prefer to watch from the comfort of your couch, no judgment here. Just enjoy and you can thank me later.