Red Notice (2021) Movie Review

Rawson Marshall Thurber’s “Red Notice” had all the ingredients of a blockbuster action-adventure movie. With a talented cast and exotic locations, it seemed like a surefire hit. However, the film ultimately failed to deliver on its promise due to a lack of personality and human touch, resulting in a product that feels more like a content algorithm than a work of art.

The film follows the story of John Hartley, played by Dwayne Johnson, the FBI's top profiler, and Nolan Booth, played by Ryan Reynolds, a notorious criminal. The two are brought together in a classic buddy comedy dynamic and go on a treasure hunt for three coveted eggs that were once owned by Cleopatra. Their journey takes them around the world, where they face off against the authorities, bad guys, and another criminal mastermind, The Bishop, played by Gal Gadot.

While the film's premise is intriguing, the execution falls flat. Thurber's direction seems to rely too heavily on the star power of Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot, without giving them enough to work with. Johnson's performance is particularly wooden, and he struggles to find the hero or everyman in his non-character. Reynolds fares slightly better, but his attempts at witty schtick fall short more often than not. The film's banter and running scenes become repetitive and lose their impact, leaving the audience feeling like they are watching a generic action movie rather than something unique or memorable.

One of the biggest problems with “Red Notice” is the lack of personality in its direction and setting. While the film takes its cues from classic action-adventure movies like “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “National Treasure,” it fails to develop its own identity. The film's gorgeous locations lack depth and character, feeling more like backdrops than integral parts of the story. The title itself feels like something generated by an action movie screenwriting program, rather than a unique and memorable name for a film.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment with “Red Notice” is the feeling of it being a product designed for a content algorithm. With a production budget of $200 million, the film should have had a human touch that would make it stand out from the crowd. Instead, it feels like a big-budget iPhone app of an action movie, designed to be watched while scrolling through your phone. While the film has some surprising twists, it lacks a coherent and memorable story that would make it stand out from other films in its genre.

It's not that the film is without merit, but rather that it fails to live up to its potential. Thurber and his team had all the ingredients of a great movie, but they failed to add their own touch to it. “Red Notice” is a disposable movie that lacks the charm and humanity that would make it worth remembering. It's the kind of film that Netflix subscribers will watch once and forget about soon after, with little desire to revisit it.

In conclusion, “Red Notice” is a missed opportunity. While it has all the elements of a great action-adventure movie, it ultimately fails to deliver on its promise. The lack of personality in its direction and setting, combined with a generic storyline and repetitive banter, make it feel more like a product of a content algorithm than a work of art. It's a disposable movie that will be quickly forgotten by most viewers, despite the star power of its cast. While there are worse movies out there, “Red Notice” is a disappointment and a reminder that even big-budget films can fall short of expectations.