Red Notice

Netflix never ceases to surprise us with its creations both in terms of films and series. While theaters are going through an unprecedented crisis related to the global pandemic of covid 19, streaming platforms are experiencing an exponentially growing number of subscribers, a sign that the public is reorienting their demands in terms of new content. Netflix has perfectly understood this and releases today a perfectly mastered blockbuster based on a scenario capable of holding our attention without false note and one of the best castings of this year with no less than in the three main roles Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds (the budget of the film estimated at 200 million dollars is clearly seen in the image). 

Set in the world of international crime, John Hartley is an Interpol super-agent trying to track down and capture the world's most wanted art thief, Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds). As his latest assignment requires him to clear the theft charges against him, he will not only have to work with Nolan Booth but also embark on the theft of three eggs that belonged to Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. Their journey across the world will bring them face to face with another art thief Sarah Black / The Bishop (Gal Gadot). The writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber offers a great adventure film taking place in different countries and does not hesitate to make allusions to several films such as the film saga Ocean's Eleven, Indiana Jones, True Lies and many others.

 Far from resembling a simple succession of action scenes, Rawson Marshall Thurber never forgets that in order to make a successful film, it is necessary to pay as much attention to the psychology of the characters and to propose a careful and inventive staging. We also suspect that the influence of film saga such as Fast and Furious was one of the inspirations to give Dwayne Johnson a tailor-made role. In the same way his duet with Ryan Reynolds works wonderfully and reminds us of the great duets of actors of the 90s. Add to that the presence of the beautiful Gal Gadot (we advise you to discover this film in its original version) and you get a very entertaining blockbuster that is a real pleasure to watch. What Red Notice loses in originality, it gains in efficiency and humor.

After two very successful comedians Dodgeball! Not even bad! (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) (2004) , The Millers, a family in the making (We're the Millers) and action films with already Dwayne Johnson (Almost Secret Agents (Central Intelligence) (2016), Skyscraper (2018)), Rawson Marshall Thurber delivers here simply his best film to date and we can only reproach not being able to discover it in theaters in France as it was the case in the United States as Red Notice is a blockbuster that deserves to be discovered on the big screen and then reviewed on his television (a big screen is required anyway). We will appreciate this movie even more for a scene in which Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds face Gal Gadot and lose. Seeing this scene, it's impossible not to think about Wonder Woman and the future movie of Dwayne Johnson Black Adam. This idea is reinforced by the fact that Ryan Reynolds has played Deadpool himself three times and that the script of Red Notice does not hesitate to make a few winks perfectly brought.

In spite of the negative American reviews, we have to admit that Red Notice is a real good surprise and especially shows a real chemistry between Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot on screen. The open ending and the fact that it takes place in a city that is important to us suggests a sequel. We hope that it will be born as the potential of a real new cinematographic saga is clearly visible on the screen.

Red Notice
Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber 
Produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Ada Bachev, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Hiram Garcia
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ed Sheeran
Cinematography Markus Förderer
Edited by Michael L. Sale
Music by Steve Jablonsky
Production companies : Flynn Picture Company, Seven Bucks Productions, Bad Version, Inc.
Distributed by Netflix
Release date : November 5, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 118 minutes

Viewed on November 12, 2021 (Netflix)

Mulder's Mark:

For those of you who saw the trailer a few days ago, maybe there are some of you who, like me, thought that the movie was announced in theaters. Because yes, even with all the blockbusters released on streaming platforms in the last few months (Black Widow, Mulan, etc.), many people still expect to find a poster of stars in the comfort of a soft red armchair with popcorn (and a mask between two bites).

Because the poster of Red Notice is very attractive, bringing together Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam), three superheroes from the DC universe. When we imagine the combined salary of these three stars (we're talking about 60 million), we expect, perhaps wrongly, to find them on the big screen, a medium more likely to bring in cash than the subscriptions of streaming channels.

And yet it is Netflix that has put $200 million on the table for Red Notice. Born with the concept of broadcasters of series, more and more original (Orange Is The New Black, Stranger Things, Daredevil, Orphan Black, Squid Game, etc.), the streaming channels now offer 'own' cinematographic productions and are no longer limited to the role of broadcaster.

And Red Notice has bet on well known faces for its first super production. A trio that we don't need to introduce anymore and that, although they have never played together, strikes from the start by its excellent alchemy. If the Reynolds-Dwayne duo, because of the scenario, occupies most of the screen, the charisma of Gal Gadot allows her to integrate perfectly into the scenes shared by the trio.

And it takes top actors to make us forget an almost non-existent scenario, with too many twists and turns that have been seen too many times elsewhere. Because Red Notice is not without reminding Indiana Jones, James Bond, Almost Secret Agents or Night And Day. At what point does the homage begin and the plagiarism end? It's hard to say ... but Rawson Marshall Thurber is not at his first try in this field (Skycraper anyone?).

However, we quickly forget the big strings (and the cardboard sets) to let ourselves embark on this adventure to the four corners of the world in search of an artifact invented from scratch. We forget the implausibilities of this adventure comedy, pure American product, to follow the adventures of this endearing trio (without forgetting Ritu Arya in the role of the inspector Das) of which we want to know the outcome.

With the Covid-19 period never ending, Red Notice makes for a good time if you agree to put your brain on off and play the nostalgia card to the fullest. Each actor of the trio is certainly faithful to his or her pre-square, but isn't that why they were chosen? Wouldn't we have been disappointed if Ryan 'Deadpool' Reynolds hadn't launched into his endless monologues? If Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson hadn't played with his big beak and looked like a fool? What if Gal 'Wonder Woman' Gadot hadn't knocked out big bads without wrinkling her dress?

Red Notice keeps its promises by keeping the viewer hooked until the end, and with all the productions available on the different media (cinema, streaming channels) it is already a good point.

To see therefore, well calmed in his sofa with popcorn ... while waiting for a hypothetical sequel which is not so utopian both by the capital sympathy of its actors and by its open end. After all, nothing prevents Netflix to make history by launching into film franchises ...

Red Notice
Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber 
Produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Ada Bachev, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Hiram Garcia
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ed Sheeran
Cinematography Markus Förderer
Edited by Michael L. Sale
Music by Steve Jablonsky
Production companies : Flynn Picture Company, Seven Bucks Productions, Bad Version, Inc.
Distributed by Netflix
Release date : November 5, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 118 minutes

Viewed on November 12, 2021 (Netflix)

GraeLeigh's Mark: