Red Notice has become one of the most expensive films to be released on Netflix’s streaming platform. The tape reveals the scams of the most wanted thieves in the world, fleeing from Interpol agents and hunting for expensive artifacts – the three Cleopatra eggs. First of all, the comedy thriller attracts with its cast – it stars Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot. Alas, the ridiculous script and frivolous staging crowd out the best qualities of the artists, and jokes are not saved by clichéd adventures.
genre action, comedy
Director Rawson Marshall Thurber
In the roles Ryan Reynolds (Nolan Booth), Dwayne Johnson (John Hartley), Gal Gadot (Sarah Black), Ritu Eria (Inspector Urvashi Das), Chris Diamantopoulos (Sotto Voche), Ivan Mbakop (Tambwe) and others.
Companies Seven Bucks Productions, Flynn Picture Company, Bad Version
Year of issue 2021
Site IMDb
Universal Pictures promised to release Red Notice to the big screens in 2020, but plans have changed – Netflix bought the rights to the film and postponed the premiere until 2021.
Netflix spent $ 200 million on the production of the picture, and large sums were spent not on filming in different parts of the world, but on the actors’ fees (it is known that Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot received $ 20 million each). The main filming process of the tape took place in the USA – in the city of Atlanta.
The film begins with a small background story about unique artifacts – these are three eggs, decorated with expensive stones, which Cleopatra received as a gift from Mark Antony. One piece of jewelry is on display in the Roman Museum, the second travels through private collections, and the third is considered lost. An FBI agent (Dwayne Johnson) tracks down an agile thief (Ryan Reynolds) who is attempting to steal artifacts. However, there is a person who is always ahead of them – this is a cunning fraudster (Gal Gadot), intending to get all three eggs.
Events are not complete without special operations (they are led by the actress Urvasi Das, known for the TV series The Umbrella Academy), the purpose of which is to prevent the theft of works of art. Actually, the “red notice” is an arrest warrant issued by Interpol to catch the most wanted criminals in the world.
The plot of the film was invented by Rawson Marshall Thurber, who also directed and produced the action movie. Previously, Thurber directed the comedy We’re the Millers and directed two films featuring Dwayne Johnson, Central Intelligence and Skyscraper.
Rawson Marshall Thurber crafted the Red Notice script from action-adventure elements that were long out of date. In the film, there is a mention of Nazis selling antiques, exotic countries with hidden treasures also appear there, and even a Russian prison located on the top of a snow-covered cliff.
To stage the action scenes, Thurber used an FPV (First Person View) drone, which creates a first-person perspective. The result is quite interesting, but, unfortunately, all good shots will be spoiled by a superficial vision of the plot – nothing, absolutely nothing happens in the film seriously. The heroes fight, fall from great heights, dodge explosions, and steal as if it were pretending, so there is simply no real danger for the characters. Also, the overall impression of the picture is influenced by the large number of scenes shot against the background of a green screen – despite the fact that the film crew managed to work in Italy, the film is still replete with computer graphics (which, for example, is clearly visible in the scene with the bull).
Of course, the main stake of the “Red Notice” was made not on the realism of what is happening, but on the most recognizable qualities of the leading actors. Gal Gadot fights dashingly, Dwayne Johnson chases and switches to jungle adventures, and Ryan Reynolds makes ironic remarks (and manages to advertise Aviation Gin, which he usually promotes on his YouTube channel). Each of them is good in its own way, but together they do not make any impression at all – they sorely lack acting chemistry (although the moments of teamwork between Johnson and Reynolds are sometimes funny).
Be that as it may, the hype around the acting trio worked with a bang. According to Deadline, Red Notice has become the most watched kickoff weekend movie in Netflix history. With this result, the primitive comedy action movie may have a sequel.
