I rewatched Red Notice recently and I still cannot decide if I love it because it is genuinely fun, or because Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot together on one screen is basically an unfair advantage.
So for anyone who hasnt seen it, the movie is about an FBI profiler played by Dwayne Johnson who ends up working with a career criminal played by Ryan Reynolds to catch the world's most wanted art thief,that part is played by Gal Gadot, except nothing goes the way that it is supposed to, and the lines between who is chasing who keep blurring until you genuinely cannot tell who to trust.
I loved the pacing, which is not something you're going to find in most films, it's one heist after another, one betrayal after another, and when you think you've got the plan, it turns right around and throws it at you again, I'm a sucker for a good twist, and Red Notice doesn't give you just one, it gives you multiple.
It is the chemistry among the three, though that really does it for me, Ryan Reynolds does his sarcastic, sharp self, Dwayne Johnson his manic straight man, and Gal Gadot is simply cool the whole time, never three steps behind anyone in the room, their banter carried scenes that could have easily felt flat in someone else's hands.
Now, let me be honest, because I always try to be, the plot isn't particularly profound, if it were, you'd be here for a while longer, some of the twists are a bit too convenient and there were some times when I just had to take things on faith for the sake of the plot, not necessarily the logic.
Visually though, no complaints, the locations alone made me want to book a flight somewhere, anywhere, from Rome to Bali, the movie used its budget well, and the action sequences felt big without feeling very exhausting.
What stuck with me most was how much fun the movie clearly had with itself, it does not take itself too seriously, and honestly, that is exactly what made it work, sometimes you do not need a masterpiece, you just need three charismatic people, a good heist, and a plot twist that makes you sit up a little straighter.
So would I recommend Red Notice to anyone,? Yes, definitely , on a day when you simply desire to be entertained without much thinking, is it award winning film? No it is not , but it knows what it is about and it provides it with confidence, charm, and some just enough chaos to keep you stuck until the end.
If you love heist movies, star studded casts, and plots that keep flipping the script, this one is worth your while.
Rating: 95/100