The Rock and Chris Evans team up to get families in the Christmas spirit with their action-packed film Red One. The film directed by Jake Kasdan has a big budget and broad appeal, but is it naughty? or nice? I caught an early screening of the film and share my thoughts with you below.

When a villain kidnaps Santa Claus from the North Pole, an E.L.F. (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative joins forces with the world’s most accomplished tracker to find him and save Christmas.

Christmas movies are a dime a dozen these days, but good ones you add to your recurring list have become a thing of the past. The trailers for Red One looked like they could check the boxes with the action, comedy, cast, and, more importantly, the Christmas spirit. You know, it proved to be everything I was hoping it would be and more.

From the time the movie starts to the end of the movie, you are locked into one of the most entertaining Christmas action movies we’ve seen in a long time. The chemistry between The Rock and Chris Evans is fantastic. They make for a perfect combo, and The Rock allows Evans to be the comedic sidekick and he to be the brute strength, which reminds you of his back-and-forth with Kevin Hart. There are times for him to be funny, and he is, but Evans carrying the comedy was a brilliant move.

I was talking with my Popcorn People Podcast partner, Dom Fisher, about this post-film, but the approach to Santa Claus and how he works his magic on Christmas Day was by far the best we’ve ever seen portrayed on the big screen. Nobody ever gives reasoning on how Santa is supposed to accomplish putting presents under everyone across the world’s tree in one night, but this laid it out in a way that made sense, and it was awesome. Kudos to the writing team on that.

Speaking of Santa, J.K. Simmons was the perfect Santa Claus, so much so that I would watch Simmons, The Rock, and Evans team up for a Red One Two. Simmons, all bulked up, is the perfect jolly old Sant Nick who makes you laugh but also is a buyable Santa in the moments he needs to be. I loved him in this movie, as he seemed to have a blast.

Ultimately, Red One is a Christmas movie that will be added to the yearly rotation in the Valero household. It is a hilarious, kick-ass action movie that will give audiences much to cheer about this holiday season. Run, don’t walk to see Red One on the biggest screen this weekend, and bring the whole family because you won’t be disappointed. Plus, the more of you that go see it, the better chance we have at a Red One 2.

Red One hits theaters on November 15.