“Red One” comes out of nowhere as a high-octane holiday story that breaks the mold of typical Christmas movies. Action, comedy, and magic all come together in this genre-bending show reimagining Santa’s world as a high-tech military operation. The movie is about a complicated rescue attempt to find and free Santa Claus, who is being held captive. The normally peaceful North Pole is turned into a Christmas-themed blockbuster battleground.

The movie has many big names, like Dwayne Johnson as Santa’s loyal bodyguard Callum and Chris Evans as Jack, a cynical independent tracker. J.K. Simmons plays Santa Claus in a strong, non-traditional way, choosing a fitness-focused look over the traditional fat belly.

Jake Kasdan, who directed the reboot of the Jumanji series, brings his skill at making action comedies that people will enjoy. The script was written by Fast & Furious veteran Chris Morgan, who promises a story with much action.