Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons
Genre: Action, Comedy
Director: Jake Kasdan
In Irish Cinemas: Now
This overly sentimental and surprisingly downbeat Christmas comedy, released just in time for early November, features Dwayne Johnson in the unlikely role of Santa Claus’s bodyguard. Tasked with rescuing Santa from a group of ruthless kidnappers, Johnson’s character embarks on a high-stakes mission to save the jolly older man and the Christmas holiday spirit. With a blend of action-packed scenes and holiday clichés, the film aims to capture the festive mood, even as it delivers a mix of heavy-handed sentiment and unseasonal gloom.
Chris Evans plays Jack O’Malley, a charming yet roguish professional thief with a sarcastic smirk and a quick wit. Beneath his tough exterior lies the hint of a good heart, though it’s buried under layers of cynicism and self-protection. Jack’s distrustful worldview began in childhood, when his innocent questioning of Santa’s existence led to threats of the dreaded “naughty list,” leaving him with a sense of disillusionment that shaped his life.
Now an adult, Jack’s personal life is just as chaotic as his career. Estranged from the mother of his child, he maintains a strained and distant relationship with his young son, often letting his work and own troubles come before his responsibilities as a father. His life is a complex tangle of regret and mischief, leaving him a man haunted by his choices yet still reluctant to change.
Unaware of the consequences, Jack finds himself unwittingly enlisted by a mysterious and sinister group with a dangerous mission: steal the classified coordinates of an exceptional airborne craft powered by reindeer. Their ultimate target? None other than Santa Claus himself. Played by J.K. Simmons, this Santa is no typical jolly old man—he’s a rugged, muscular figure dedicated to an intense workout regimen, perhaps in part thanks to his head of security, Callum Drift. Drift, portrayed with solid, unyielding resolve by Johnson, brings a grounded, almost unbreakable presence to Santa’s protection team. However, beneath Drift’s stoic exterior lies a growing internal conflict. He is on the brink of retirement, grappling with a crisis of faith in their mission to protect Santa, questioning the true purpose of his years of loyalty and the sacrifices he’s made along the way. This mission to steal Santa’s location threatens to be a turning point for them all.
There’s no actual “naughty list” punishment in this overly cheerful Christmas setting; no one faces genuine trouble or disappointment. The sugary sentimentality glosses over any attempts at humour, including a half-hearted nod to the infamous Will Smith and Chris Rock incident. Even from the prologue, it’s clear that Jack’s sorrowful uncle is destined to challenge his disbelief in Santa.
Ultimately, we’re left with a surprisingly earnest focus on the necessity of buying presents from stores, an underlying message that feels more obligatory than heartfelt. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a feel-good holiday movie, this commercialised, predictable content lacks lasting charm. It’s the kind of seasonal film that’s likely to be forgotten not by the time December ends but as early as mid-November.
Overall: 2/10
Movie Reviewer
