Directed by: Steve Jablonsky
Starring: Dwanye Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot
If you are looking for some light fun- the movie is it. But if you are looking for some originality in an action movie then forget it because “Red Notice” is just a compilation of everything that has already been seen millions of times before in similar situations.
Before doing anything the director of the movie did his homework. He pulled out some old VHS tapes with the labels “Die hard,” “The Fugitive,” “Indiana Jones,” “National Treasure,” “True Lies,” and watched them all over again very carefully. Then he did the copy-paste taking characters, ideas, and even full sequences from those and a few other movies and making his own product saying: “Why should I take a risk with something new? Better play it safe with the old tried and true formula. Copy the oldtimers, they never fail!”
In the centre of the action is a trio of con artists- turned high-end ancient art thieves. They are all working separately at first under different aliases and disguises but their paths cross in the aim of a big prize: 300 million dollars for 3 pieces of very unique art: the so-called Cleopatra’s Eggs. The first egg is stolen by one of the 3 members of a non-formal group. The first egg was in a museum in Rome. The second one is owned by a private art collector in Valencia, Spain. Taking that one from there was not easy, but it happened somehow. And then the last one, only one of 3 sticky fingers knows where the third one is. But, there are at least two other parties interested in getting their hands on these precious pieces of art. Here things get super complicated.
From the acting trio, Reynolds provides some brightness in an otherwise bleak acting selection. The Rock is giving everything he has but as we all know from before, he doesn’t have much (except the muscles). Gal Gadot is the biggest disappointment. She wants to be Xenia Onatopp (Femke Jensen in Goldeneye) but it just doesn’t work.
“Red Notice ” is another expensive production with no payback. It will definitely not return the investment. But, it looks nice, that’s a fact. It is filmed on several locations (by the script, action is happening in Rome, London, Bali, Valencia, Argentina, and Russia).
Based on how the movie ends, it looks like the executive producers are targeting a sequel. Hopefully they will not make that grave mistake and lose money for a second time in a row.
The movie is watchable. Watch if you want to relax your brain for a while. Just don’t expect a lot. There is not a lot there (except The Rock’s muscles and Gal Gadot’s long legs).
