What's On in conversation with: the stars of Christmas movie Red One
Chris Evans and The Rock talk about their favourite Christmas traditions…
Christmas traditions tend to be a dependable breed of conventions. You know if there’s turkey, there will be trimmings; the time honoured ritual of defrosting Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé will begin in November without fail; the tree lights that have spent all year tangling themselves into increasingly tighter knots in your storage cupboard will have lost a few bulbs to the Ghost of Christmases past; and there will be new slew of festive movies featuring some variation of the formula: man/child/woman stops believing in the spirit of Christmas, experiences Santa-based epiphany, becomes a radicalised anti humbug evangelist.
Red One
Red One
Red One
There are some exceptions to this cinematic trope though, films like this year’s Red One – starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the lead bodyguard of an impressively swole Santa (J.K. Simmons); Chris Evans as a morally dubious mercenary; Lucy Liu as E.L.F. (Enforcement, Logistics and Fortification) director Zoe Harlow; Kristofer “GOT” Hivju as Santa’s brother Krampus; and Kiernan Shipka who plays the films lead villain – the ice witch Gryla. The movie takes the form of an extraction saga, Santa is kidnapped and it’s down to Jonson, Evans and an elite unit of the E.L.F. protection force, to get him back. It’s a Papa Noel sack full of action, schlapstick lols and kid-friendly Yuletide fun.
And if you fancy stoking the fires of your own festive feels, it’s out in cinemas across the UAE now. Are you hungry for more? We were (virtually) present for a fireside chat with the cast and crew at a recent press conference, these are the things that were on their nice list…
Dwayne Johnson, talking about finding the heart in the movie:
“I think the idea, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the movie, where JK as Santa Claus reminds me that it’s our job to see the best in people… to look at the child, look beyond the fact they’re on the naughty list, like this guy [points to Chris Evans], look beyond it and look at the kid in everybody.”
Chris Evans, talking about whether people on the naughty list deserve a second chance:
“This movie does a great job of tapping into the the heart and humanity that that you’re supposed to feel during the holidays, goodwill towards men. It is about remembering priorities, and certainly for the folks that are looking for forgiveness, offering them those second chances.”
Kiernan Shipka, talking about being deliciously evil:
“It was really fun. I loved it. I’ve never really played a proper villain before. I’ve definitely played people who are dark and twisted, but the film kind of hinges on this kidnapping … So playing someone who is a villain, but also maintaining a sense of levity and fun with the whole thing was really lovely. I’ll play I’ll play villain anytime.”
Lucy Liu, talking about her Christmas traditions:
“We didn’t grow up with any traditions, but I have a child now, and I realise that you can start your own traditions. Of course, he gets gifts, but the most important gifts are experiences … doing something together, even if it’s simple, like going to see The [Radio City] Rockettes. I didn’t think he would really remember, but he said to me last year, ‘Oh, remember going to the Empire State Building?’ And it really made me feel like, oh, this really works.”
Images: MovieStillsDB
