Red Notice

NEW TO NETFLIX! Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, Red Notice tells the story of unlikely partners doing what they can to save a priceless piece of history. FBI agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) gets a tip that one of the most expensive art pieces in the world is about to be stolen. When it is, he is forced to team up with art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) to track and take down the most prolific art thief in the world, The Bishop (Gal Gadot). With bumps along the way, the union of Hartley and Booth will prove to be far more difficult than either expected, but their journey will be one for the books.

Anyone who has followed Dwayne Johnson throughout his acting career is well aware that nearly every one of his films is absurd but tons of fun. Point being the Fast and Furious series: he jumps from buildings, survives massive explosions, and completes feats that would, for anyone else, be impossible. The neverending action, the ridiculous comedy, and the incredible journeys on which Johnson’s characters often take viewers serve their purpose and typically entertain (sometimes ironically) from beginning to end. Red Notice, in nearly every way, except for the characters’ names, could be part of the Fast and Furious franchise. The action is uncanny, the comedy absurd, and every second is incredibly fun.

The three Hollywood titans play so well together they allow the best of each other to come out and are imminently watchable and fun from the jump. Sure, some terrific actors are present, but given that Johnson’s movies aren’t predicated on superb acting, my expectation was for something average while other aspects shined brightly. I couldn’t have been more wrong, as each of those three leads is so incredibly astute in their performances. In fact, this may be Gal Gadot’s best performance to date. Dwayne Johnson is his typical, charming, delightful self.

“…forced to team up with art thief Nolan Booth to track and take down the most prolific art thief in the world…”

Ryan Reynolds isn’t typically known for his deep, complex roles, as he generally is seen as a comedian, which he handles incredibly well. However, Red Notice allows him to shine in dramatic moments as well, and his performance is beautiful. There aren’t many heavy beats present, but the actor hits each one brilliantly.

If you’re looking for something realistic with true emotional relevance, well, then Thurber’s action-comedy isn’t for you. There are touching tidbits sprinkled throughout, but what you are going to get is the high-octane action and incredible stunts for which Johnson has come to be known. In terms of action and story, the action flick is precisely what one might expect going in. But, it is even more fun than I could have hoped.

The marriage of Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot is beautiful, and they support one another incredibly well. Red Notice is an example of the best of what these three have to offer the world, and I’m impressed by what this cast and crew bring to the table. It’s funny, action-packed, and fun, which is exactly as it should be.