Review of SAS: Red Notice (2021) by Astropleb — 21 Mar 2021

This film is bland, boring and probably would've been received a little better if it came out in the early 90's.

The problem is that the narrative of someone trapped in a space while being hunted by 'bad guys' has been done to death. So, to do it now would require some inventive writing and unique new ideas that could reinvent that style of film and make it interesting. Unfortunately, any form of unique/interesting storytelling devices that could've made this film interesting, unique or good are absent.

In terms of movies using this 'trapped narrative' it's not an all-bad idea, had it had a different protagonist and antagonist (preferably better actors) I might've enjoyed it. I didn't like either of their performances and they left me disinterested, they weren't unique, they weren't well written and they were a bore to watch.

A good example of this trapped narrative done well (lol well not well, but at least entertaining) would be the film lockout, the writer sets it in space to be different and creates a character that's sarcastic and quippy, but oddly likeable.

You see, if we're spending so much time with these characters and you write them as interesting and they're acted well, then even if the story's bland at least we as viewers spend time with people that entertain us and can trick us into feeling like we're watching a good movie... but none of that is here. Instead, we get Ruby Rose, who's acting is so bad it's criminal and some dude I've never seen before.

Saying all that actually makes it a real shame that they've hired some other really decent actors:

Andy Serkis, Tom Wilkinson, Hannah John-Kamen, Owain Yeoman and Noel Clarke (who's passable I guess...).

All people that can usually provide a good performance let down by a lazy script, poorly acted antagonist, boring protagonist and a subtext so transparent, lame and ham-fisted you start to think his girlfriend is the actual psycho.

Not worth your time, unless of course you like films that just make noise and go "bang!", if that's you, then have at it... Or watch lockout, lol it's stupid and ridiculous, but it's got the aforementioned "bang!" and a protagonist that actually has on screen charisma.