Christmas is the time of year for feel-good holiday movies. Not everyone wants to watch them, though, and that’s why movies like Red One are so popular.
Red One stars Chris Evans as a tracker, who is kidnapped to force him to work with an E.L.F., played by Dwayne Johnson, to save Santa. It’s a great mixture of comedy and horror, and it’s something to check out if you love Christmas movies with a bit of a bang. The question is whether it’s suitable for the kids.
Red One age rating: Explaining the PG-13 rating
Red One is officially rated PG-13. This means that it is suitable for teenagers, and those who are younger could find it enjoyable. That’s where the PG part comes in—it’s all about what you think will work for your children. So, you’ll want a rough idea of what to expect, without the spoilers, of course!
Sex & nudity: This movie is focused more on the action, but there are a couple of scenes that stand out. One scene involves a woman with very few clothes on. There is also a scene where a man ogles at a woman in a bikini with bare buttocks showing.
Violence & gore: At the heart of Red One, it’s all about action and saving Santa. So, as you would expect, there is some violence involved. Think of it a little like a Marvel movie but a little more exaggerated. In fact, it’s probably more on the level of Jumanji, as there is a fantasy element to the action.
This doesn’t shy away from fight scenes and a little bit of funny violence. The characters end up being punched a few times, and bruises do show. However, there is no major gore that would have kids too frightened. Even tweens and some younger kids have likely seen worse with the Marvel movies out there!
Language: There is some profanity throughout the movie. As a PG-13 movie, there are some rules, though, especially around the F-bomb. There is a sort of use of the F-bomb in the movie, but it’s cut off. It’s clear what the characters are saying, though.
The S-word is the worst of the swear words used. There are multiple uses of “hell,” “damn,” and similar curse words. Look out for “a-hole” and “d-head” every now and then. They’re not used in an over-the-top way, and instead, where it would make sense for the style of the movie.
Alcohol & drugs: There is some drinking by one particular character. Watch out for the bottles of vodka lying around now and then. However, it’s not gratuitous and won’t bring up too many questions.
Overall verdict: Who is Red One appropriate for?
Overall, this is the sort of Christmas movie teenagers and some tweens will love. It’s full of action and comedy rather than the romance that a lot of Christmas movies bring.
Because of the saving Santa theme, this could also be great for younger kids. That’s something for you to decide, as you’ll want to assess how your kids are with some violence and frightening scenes. This is something my eight-year-old would adore, and she doesn’t like a lot of horror. She loves watching people save Santa, though! And an adult-sized polar bear is going to have the kids begging to go!
Red One is now out in theaters.