christmas – Popped!

Release date: November 15, 2024 (USA)

Budget: 250 million USD

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures, Amazon MGM Studios, Universal Pictures

Welcome, fellow moviegoers, to Popped. Blog with this week’s batch of “Reviews.” We started with A Real Pain, now for the real pain of a movie Red One.

Red One showed so much promise and yet gave it all away within the trailers. Failure from creation itself, some may find that their batch of cookies to Santa may be salvaged toward the end. However, the undercooked middle and surprised aftertaste of the first bite could put people off.

Red One opens with a younger version of our main character Jack O’Malley being played by Chris Evans. This opening scene felt like a Christmas movie before the 30 year time skip to present times.

Callum Drift (Played by Dwayne Johnson), an ELF member and bodyguard of Santa Claus is one day away from retirement as the naughty list grows each year with worse and worse adults. The magic of Christmas is waning on him but Santa reminds him that he does this job for the children that are no longer children to remember that feeling of their younger child.

Jack O’Malley, an L4 bad guy, gets into a situation where his actions result in Santa being kidnapped by an unknown group. Callum and Jack go on an adventure (which is all in the trailer) to rescue Santa and save Christmas.

The ingredients are all there. There is so much goodness behind Dwayne Johnson that he takes up 90% of the screen time. If only he gave the camera to anyone else to show off the world of the awesome creatures and characters supporting the film for 10% this could have been enjoyed more.

If you’re looking for a Christmas movie where a “failed” parent learns a lesson and does a good deed then I’d recommend seeing Elf. You feel the magic in that film and the characters all get to shine, unlike this film which finds it hard to show the creations that are forced to the back.

I hovered in the mid scores for sometime until an hour and a half where I wanted to walk out as I was done. The last 5 to 10 minutes was fun and I enjoyed the remaining good cookies in the batch as the film got to show off for a moment its creation.

Back and forth on the rating, however, I’m going with a 4/10 below average movie that may even be lower than others. This brings good news to my bottom 5 list as Abigail has been saved from ending the year in my bottom 5 by being joined by Red One.

This maybe hard for some as I’m sure many were looking forward to this title. If you enjoy the rock spreading the Christmas cheer through adult language then you may enjoy this movie. For me though I’ll be enjoying Elf and the best Christmas Pageant ever.

Thank you all for coming by Popped. Blog and I look forward to seeing you next week for 2 big doses of “Reviews” – Wicked & Gladiator 2.

Release date: November 8, 2024 (USA)

Director: Dallas Jenkins

Distributed by: Lionsgate Films

Based on: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; by Barbara Robinson

Narrated by: Lauren Graham

Produced by: Kevin Downes; Jon Erwin; Andrew Erwin; Darin McDaniel; Chet Thomas; Daryl Lefever

Welcome to the latest batch of Popped “Reviews” fellow movie-going lovers. Today bringing you The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and up next Conclave.

Big shout out to Harkins for showing this “The Best Early Access Screening”. Glad I was in the area to catch it because I may very well have a new seasonal movie to play :D.

This isn’t usually a movie I’d check out and another reason, which I’ve mentioned before. Why I love watching so many movies this year. I get to see movies I may have skipped, which are honestly really good.

Instantly I fell in love with this movie due to a family of children called the Herdmans. While setting up to write this “Review” I found out this is a series of 3 books, so I’m really hoping for 2 sequels :D.

All the children did an excellent job in this movie, especially Beatrice Schneider, who played Imogene Herdman. She was fantastic and I really connected with this group of kids. Honestly, I’m a sap when it comes to movies like this where characters are made as outcasts or treated differently to others. I really bond and connect with films of this nature.

The Herdmans experiencing a Christmas Story for the first time was done in such a refreshing way that even I became interested.

It’s based on a book of the same title name. However, to avoid spoilers for those like myself going in blind or just seeing the trailer. This feature is based around a town celebrating the 75th anniversary of their Christmas pageant.

After the lead of the pageant getting into an accident, its up to one of our main adult leads Grace, played by Judy Greer to take the reins. Our little group of outcasted Herdmans get themselves into the pageant and from there enjoy this experience.

It was heartwarming and got me in the feels. It’s not Wild Robot but it belongs in the season and a must-watch for families or those wanting a good time. I’d watch this seasonally which easily gets it in the 8/10 great movies ranking.

I appreciate you coming by Popped for this “Review” of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Have you seen it or plan on watching it? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

Stick around to see a “Review” on Conclave. Or take a nap which I ended up doing throughout.

Tag: christmas

Red One “Review”

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever “Review”