Red Notice: Star Power Cant Save Netflixs Dull Heist Film from Mediocrity

The film Red Notice, which is premiering today on Netflix, is categorized as an action comedy. However, it lacks effectiveness in either genre. The movie bombards viewers with a series of quips without ever fully embracing its comedic potential. Crafted by writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Skyscraper), the Netflix production feels devoid of character—most of its 117-minute duration echoes as a generic action film. I caught a screening earlier this week, and I’ve almost completely forgotten the action scenes; they’re just that forgettable. In essence, Red Notice is an unremarkable heist film that lacks any distinct flair. The only noteworthy aspect is that it stars three of the biggest names in Hollywood, which is essentially its sole purpose.

From watching the film, it becomes apparent that Red Notice aims to showcase Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot. It is evident that both the filmmakers and Netflix understand that viewers are primarily interested in their appearances, which is why Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot seem to be playing exaggerated versions of themselves rather than characters. Reynolds relies on his signature comedic style (akin to Deadpool) but dumbed down for a family-friendly PG-13 audience. Speaking of family-friendly content, Red Notice ensures a lack of bloodshed or visible injuries despite its gunfire and explosions. Johnson’s customary charm is toned down, resulting in many eyerolls while sharing screen time with Reynolds. In contrast, Gadot appears to be more authentically herself and appears to enjoy her role the most.

Red Notice shines when the three leads share scenes together—it definitely could have benefitted from more of these interactions and snappier dialogue. However, the movie is quite timid in its approach. It sticks to a safe formula, steering clear of any significant risks or bold choices. The main objective seems to be creating a new intellectual property for Netflix—a rather cynical pursuit and a poor use of resources considering Netflix invested over $200 million (around Rs. 1,489 crores) into it, making it one of the platform’s priciest projects to date, largely due to the actors’ inflated salaries, reportedly exceeding $20 million (around Rs. 149 crores) per star. For this? It’s simply outrageous.

Despite the film’s attempts to flaunt its global settings—from Rome to Bali, Russia to Valencia, Argentina to Cairo, and Sardinia to Paris—with flashy on-screen text, it’s striking how small-scale the film feels. This might be attributed to the fact that a significant portion of it unfolds indoors. What’s the point of jet-setting across the globe only to remain inside?

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At a glance, Red Notice presents “characters,” though they essentially serve as mere decoration. Johnson portrays FBI Special Agent John Hartley, touted as the foremost profiler in the world, while Reynolds plays the high-profile con artist Nolan Booth, whose reputation as a top art thief is overshadowed by the rising star known as The Bishop, embodied by Gadot, who lacks even a named identity in the film let alone a backstory. The other two characters aren’t much better off— their development is reduced to having “daddy issues.” The film also struggles with exposition, often resulting in characters dumping information on the audience, whether discussing their backgrounds, revealing plot twists, or explaining their next maneuvers. It all feels very obvious.

There is a storyline in Red Notice, although it bears little significance, as humorously pointed out by Reynolds when he breaks the fourth wall—the narrative centers on an Egyptian billionaire who desires the three lost, jeweled eggs of Cleopatra (a fictional concept) as a wedding gift for his daughter, also named Cleopatra, and he’s offering a substantial reward for them. Both Reynolds and Gadot’s characters are after this crucial item, while Johnson is hot on their trail.

They are also pursued by Inspector Das (Ritu Arya, from The Umbrella Academy), an Interpol officer who breaks jurisdiction rules. However, her role is minor and thankless, much like that of Silicon Valley‘s Russ Hanneman—played by Chris Diamantopoulos—who is a secondary villain, saddled with a problematic accent that almost feels like a joke.

Though the latter parts of Red Notice drown in chaos, the beginning features moments of intrigue. While Johnson embodies a robust and imposing presence, Reynolds exhibits agility and finesse, creating an interesting contrast in the initial action sequences. Reynolds showcases impressive acrobatics, navigating obstacles with ease, while Johnson bulldozes through with brute force—he lacks Reynolds’ finesse but gets the job done. However, following this initial scene, the film completely neglects to utilize this contrast again. Moreover, while there are fleeting moments of humor interspersed throughout the action, much of it remains rather uninspired.

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Ryan Reynolds as Nolan Booth in Red Notice
Photo Credit: Frank Masi/Netflix

Desperately striving to establish itself among top-tier action films, Red Notice makes minimal effort. Thurber brings little that hasn’t been done repeatedly before.

Even though Extraction, led by Chris Hemsworth, suffered from similar narrative flaws and squandered its talented cast, it nonetheless focused on delivering action. Netflix celebrated 99 million households watching Extraction within the first month, securing it a sequel set to start filming later in November, with a release scheduled for April 2023.

Netflix lacks its own John Wick, Fast & Furious, or Mission: Impossible franchise, and the urgency is palpable. However, they haven’t all succeeded like Extraction in launching a franchise. Previous attempts included Bright with Will Smith, which failed to produce the promised sequel even after being greenlit four years earlier. There was also Reynolds in 6 Underground, whose sequel was scrapped after Netflix acknowledged that it didn’t resonate with audiences.

Nonetheless, Netflix remains relentless. Beyond Red Notice, which was evidently crafted with potential sequels in mind, they have another $200 million action thriller on the horizon: The Gray Man, featuring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, helmed by the directors of Avengers: Endgame. Gosling is anticipated to return for its sequels. Netflix possesses substantial financial resources and appears prepared to invest heavily until they achieve a breakthrough.

The future of Red Notice could hinge on its reception from audiences. Given the star power associated with it, one might expect it to outdo Extraction’s opening-month figures. Yet whether it merits further installments is an entirely separate discussion. Franchises can often be rejuvenated under the guidance of superior writers and directors, but that’s not straightforward for Red Notice 2. Johnson, as one of the three leads and a producer on the film, has significant influence on its direction (and any ensuing series).

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Dwayne Johnson as John Hartley in Red Notice
Photo Credit: Frank Masi/Netflix

As Johnson’s status in Hollywood has risen, his circle has notably contracted. He has previously collaborated with Thurber on two occasions: the action thriller Skyscraper in 2018 and the action-comedy Central Intelligence in 2016. He has also partnered with Brad Peyton three times, including the disaster flick San Andreas from 2015 and the monster feature Rampage in 2018. Jaume Collet-Serra, who directed Johnson in his Disney vehicle Jungle Cruise, has also been tapped to oversee Johnson’s debut in the DC Universe as Black Adam. Johnson’s collaborations with these directors suggest an acknowledgment of his dominant authority—especially significant in his role as a producer across these films—making him effectively the invisible driving force behind them.

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It seems unlikely that Johnson would relinquish creative control to a visionary filmmaker, which likely contributed to his departure from the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel, the lead actor and producer of that series, left no room for two stars in the same sphere. Instead, Johnson has cultivated an exaggerated version of that dynamic throughout Hollywood. Whether it’s in Rampage, Jumanji, or Red Notice, he continues to replicate his formula—and even maintains ties with the Fast & Furious universe, reprising his role in the underwhelming spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, which also has a sequel in the works.

Most of his films generate substantial box office returns, which is precisely why there’s a strong desire to capitalize on Johnson’s appeal. For Netflix, the focus is on acquiring new subscribers (and keeping them) through the star power of Deadpool, The Rock, and Wonder Woman. Ultimately, Red Notice feels like a monumental waste of financial resources and time—except perhaps for those individuals who collected $20 million checks.

Red Notice is available for streaming on Friday, November 12 at 1:30pm IST / 12am PT on Netflix around the world. In India, Red Notice can be watched in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.