Greetings Warriors and Scholars. Weeks ago, I went to see Red One in the theater with my girlfriend and had an amazing time. I’ve also watched it two other times on Prime with other friends and family. The movie is fun, action packed and surprised me with some important moments to talk about. I went expecting the action and fun, but I was not expecting significant themes from a Christmas action movie featuring the Rock.
The Rock plays an elf…well, more accurately, Callum Drift, the Commander of the ELF (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification). He is basically Santa’s most trusted bodyguard. Santa is played by J.K. Simmons and is a far more athletic Santa than we are used to seeing on screen. The movie also features Captain America himself Chris Evans as a selfish Jack O’Malley, better known as The Wolf; an operator for hire who can find anyone or anything.
Today as we move toward a new year we will use this movie to consider how choices affect both ourselves and those around us.
Spoilers Ahead!
Early in the film we find several examples of Jack’s choices. As a child he found the Christmas gifts and led his cousins to them with a charge (candy). This gets him in trouble with an uncle. We also find out his dad is not in the picture. As the movie progresses, we see how he operates as The Wolf. In one sequence he steals a coffee and a newspaper from people at a coffeeshop. He then combines these items with some wiring to start a fire that distracts people so he can steal a security badge. After doing what he wants in the facility you hear a baby crying while he walks away with the babies sucker with all the chaos of his distraction in the background. We also learn that Jack has a son named Dylan…and has been a terrible father. In between the events above we find Callum and Santa at a packed mall. Callum witnesses the selfish acts and comments of various holiday shoppers. We find out he is leaving his job because he is sick of all of it. He’s lost the ability to see the fun and innocent kid in each adult.
Santa has long been used as a motivation for kids to make good choices. We are told he only gives gifts to good boys and girls and that he leaves coal for bad kids. Red One also brings out two other mythological characters known for punishing kids who make bad choices. Most of us have heard of Krampus before. He has been in movies and shows often and is known for punishing kids by hitting them with sticks on Krampusnacht (Krampus Night), normally Dec. 5. It also features Gryla, a Christmas witch/troll known for taking and eating naughty kids. Krampus is played by Kristopher Hivju and Gryla by Kiernan Shipka.
After Callum and MORA (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) learn that The Wolf found the North Pole’s location, he is brought in for questioning about the disappearance of Santa. This begins an adventure that sends both Jack and Callum around the world using toy store cleaning closets as portals. Why wasn’t I told about these portals when I worked at Toys R Us, huh? That would have saved me money on a couple of trips.
After Krampus has captured them for intruding on his land and because Jack tried to steal from him, they have a long talk about choices. If Jack had not tried to steal a single gold coin, they would not have been captured. Jack claims he has no choice but to steal it because he has big debts. Callum reminds him that every choice, be it big or small, shapes who he is and the outcomes of this life. Every choice has consequences.
We see how choices affect our own lives and others lives in Genesis 25. Esau comes home from a hunting trip famished. In his hunger and lack of consideration for the future he agrees to give up his birthright as the firstborn just for one meal. Then later on Jacob, with help from their mom, dresses up as Esau and tricks Isaac into giving him the inheritance and blessing that normally went to the first born at that time. That leads to Esau being extremely angry (even though he agreed with the whole craziness at the time of that meal) and so on. Just lots of messiness from poor choices.
Back to the movie. After that discussion Jack starts to make better choices. Krampus decides to keep Callum, the one who really wants to save Santa, and let Jack “the Wolf”, the man who stole from Krampus, go. So now he must face this consequence that his choice of stealing put someone who is trying to do good in trouble. Instead of running, he stays and, seeing a fellow gambler in Krampus, sets up the way for Callum to escape. Later after finding out his son is a victim of Gryla’s deceitful snow globes; he grabs one of the traps himself and puts himself into a bad situation to help his son.
The biggest choice happens when he and his son are trapped in snow globes. These devices are meant to isolate the naughty as a punishment so only the nice or responsible people are out in the world. After the snow globes teleport to her location, Jack and his son are able to talk through the glass. As Jack admits his own depravity he also chooses to do better. He decides it is time to repent and be a better father. This confession and repentance break both Jack and his son out of the prison of the snow globes.
James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other that we might be healed. We see a great example of this in that scene when Jack and Dylan are stuck in snow globes. As Jack confesses his failings and chooses to be a better dad they are released from the globes. Our own sinful choices breed isolation and conflict, but confession and repentance open the opportunity for healing and restoration.
As we go into 2025 how can you make better choices? What do you need to work on? This isn’t about a new year’s resolution; most of which don’t last or succeed. This is about building habits that encourage healthy relationships. Happy New Year. Go forth and choose well each day.