Maybe this just isn’t my type of film, but I thoroughly disliked it. Red Notice is a 2021 American action comedy film, both written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. This film is also co-produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber and Dwayne Johnson, marking the third collaboration between the two. In this film, an FBI agent reluctantly teams up with a renowned art thief in order to catch an even more notorious thief. Following the release of Red Notice, it became one of Netflix’s most-watched original films, boasting a star-studded cast and an engaging mix of action, comedy, and adventure. Overall, the film received mixed-to-average reviews, highlighting the stereotypical mainstream storyline and character dynamics.

Red Notice is considered formulaic and mainstream in many ways, as it follows many familiar tropes and structures that are typical in action-comedy films. The basic set up of the film revolves around FBI agent (Dwayne Johnson) trying to catch two art thieves (Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot). The agent-thief dynamic is one that is a staple to the heist genre, with the cat-and-mouse chase being central to the plot. The focus on stealing valuable artwork, is another common plot device in heist films, drawing inspiration from other mainstream films of similar genre such as, Ocean’s Eleven. Another key formulaic element of mainstream action-comedy films is the teaming up of two characters who initially hate each other but are forced to work together ‘for the greater good’. As the film begins Hartley and Booth are adversaries but ultimately become uneasy partners. This trope is especially common within action-comedy films as it creates ambiguity for the audience.

Arguably the most formulaic feature of this film is it’s predictable happy resolution to the film, the ending is comfortable satisfying, ending with the characters having overcome the obstacles and challenges that come their way. The ending doesn’t introduce any major surprises and follows the usual formula of the heroes outsmarting the villains, and with everyone walking away with their prizes (both figuratively and literally in this case). The ending of the film also hints at possible future films, this is incredibly typical of formulaic blockbusters. The resolution opens the door for more sequels, which is very common in high-profile franchise films.

The reception of Red Notice was mixed, with both praise and criticism from audiences alike. The film found broad commercial success thanks to the high-profile cast, action-packed sequences, and global appeal. But faced mixed reviews due to the formulaic storyline, lack of deep character development, and predictable plot twists. While the film was described as “fun” and “entertaining,” it didn’t break new ground for the genre, and received heavy criticism for leaning heavily on familiar tropes. Commercially Red Notice quickly became a huge commercial success, becoming one of Netflix’s  most-watched films. Netflix reported that the film was viewed for over 328 million hours within the first 28 days, making it one of the top-performing original films on Netflix. This initial success combined with the high production budget (around $200 million), made it a significant commercial success. Generally, critics had divided opinions about the film, with it receiving 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 230 reviews. The film’s average rating on the site was 5.6/10, suggesting the film was viewed as mindless entertainment, but not critically acclaimed. Critics found themselves disappointed at the predictable and formulaic plot structures. The plot was considered overly familiar and lacking surprises or significant depth. It was also stated that there was lack of character development, with the three main characters being seen as one-dimensional and more reliant on their star personas rather than any substantial characterization.