Red Notice review: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot's game of cat-and-mouse-and-cat is nothing less than fireworks

3.5/5

The FBI's best profiler, John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), is on the case when an Interpol Red Notice, the highest level warrant to seek down and catch the world's most wanted, is issued. His global search lands him at the centre of daring theft, forcing him to team up with Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds), the world's finest art thief, to apprehend "The Bishop," the world's most sought art thief (Gal Gadot). The ensuing high-flying journey takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, into an isolated prison, into the forest, and, worst of all, into each other's company.

Nowadays, filmmakers attempt to make an enjoyable film but hardly a few have succeeded. Will say the same about Red Notice. The film written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber is about two art thieves Nolan Booth and Sarah Black aka The Bishop (Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot, respectively) who desire to steal the priceless Fabergé-like eggs known as Cleopatra eggs here. However, they face an obstacle when Interpol issues Red Notice and declares it a global alert to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted. Thus enters the FBI Profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) who wants to hunt both of them down and kick their a**.

In a nutshell, it can be called a casting coup that creates fireworks along with the amazing script that Thurber penned. Reynolds, who has returned to the screen after Free Guy, knows how to tickle the funny bone of every person who watches him on the screen. If comedy is a tough genre to crack, the actor axes it with his quirks and irreproachable timing.

To match up with him is Johnson, who has a serious approach as Hartley but still manages to add a slice of lime with his humour to the delicious dry martini that Reynolds is.

Johnson and Reynolds’ banter takes most of the screen time and we are not complaining! Their 'marriage of convenience' deserves a divorce, but they just mix it up like a symphony, leaving one wanting more after every sequence.

If there’s one good cop, Red Notice introduces two bad cops or cons by adding the mastermind The Bishop played by Gadot. She, with her Wonder Woman avatar, packs a punch and overpowers her male counterparts in the scenes with them. Thankfully, the actor is not zeroed down to just being a sex symbol as she has been in several non-DC films.

If you remember, Gadot had a brief appearance alongside Tom Cruise in Knight & Day. The actor gives a sense of major déjà vu in a few sequences. And not just that, the film's cinematography during the chasing sequences reminded me of the moments from James Mangold's 2010 directorial.

One more thing which also deserves a worthy mention is her palpable chemistry with Johnson, especially in the bachata dance sequence which turns too hot to handle.

However, all being said and done, nothing beats the comic relief which Red Notice gives throughout its runtime.

The oopsie moments made by the characters like Nolan’s denial of not stealing a priceless painting while it is framed in the same room where he is being questioned. The other one which will crack me up in the coming days would be the straight-faced shade Reynolds’ character throws at Johnson for being "bald".

If it was improv, then man, what a performer Reynolds is! And if not, kudos to the writers for working on the impeccable comic timings of the actors assigned to them.

The only major supporting character in Red Notice is played by Ritu Arya, who does a pretty decent job as a cop and is very much noticeable throughout the film.

Talking more about the writing, Thurber touches upon a lot of serious subjects, such as daddy issues (yes, that’s a joke, you will laugh when you watch the film).

However, what lacks in the script is the storyline, because it brings nothing new to the table. But for Red Notice, it’s forgiven! Sometimes all it takes is for the actors to do their job right of entertaining the viewers. Such as the comic timing of Reynolds or just the presence of Johnson and Gadot along with the virtual global tour is the icing on the cake.

Markus Förderer delivers the assignment of shooting the film extravagantly with grandeur and style. The indoor sequences also stick out like a sore thumb, making them visually appealing and interesting. In the outdoor sequences, Förderer takes the right advantage of the weather in the locations, such as the bone-chilling winter of Russia, the good summery vibes in Rome and Sardinia, and also captures the exotica and tanning weather of beachy locations.

Not just that, even in the fast sequences such as fighting or chasing scenes, every actor is captured beautifully in every frame and there’s no bad 'any' day for anyone.

It ain’t surprising at all that Red Notice is touted to be the most expensive Netflix film in the streaming platform’s history.

Michael L. Sale, who edited the film, didn’t leave it half-baked where one actor would have seemingly turned into a supporting character. The crispier work by him seems effortless and deserves a good mention.

Even music by Steve Jablonsky blends well with the sequences and doesn’t make it stretchy or loud.

Like many 'heist' outings, Red Notice also has a twist that you might see coming as the film progresses. But that doesn’t make it weaker because if you are watching it for Reynolds, Johnson, Gadot and funny sequences, it delivers rightfully to you.

After a long time, Netflix has brought about light and an out-and-out entertaining film that you shouldn’t miss for the right reasons. It's what one can call a stylish globe-trotting game of cat-and-mouse-and-cat.

Three gorgeous actors who are amazing at what they do - entertain to the fullest, making every moment worthwhile in Red Notice. Also, did I mention the film is screamingly funny?