By John Corrado

New releases for the week of November 15th, 2024.

Theatrical Releases:

Red One (Wide Release): J.K. Simmons stars as a fit Santa Claus who gets kidnapped, and Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans are the two guys tasked with bringing him back, in this big budget Christmas action comedy from director Jake Kasdan (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level). The reviews are pretty mediocre, but I’m always down for seeing a new Christmas movie in theatres, so will check this one out.

Memoir of a Snail (Limited Release): Australian animator Adam Elliot’s long overdue follow-up to his excellent Mary & Max is another striking stop-motion portrait of non-neurotypical characters trying to figure out the world and their place in it. This time it’s the story of a lonely, snail-obsessed woman (voiced by Sarah Snook), looking back on a life befallen by heartbreak and tragedy. Like Mary & Max, this is a devastating story about still finding glimmers of hope in life that is heartbreaking, but also powerfully affirming. A claymation gem. (Full Review)

More Releases: Hello, Love, Again (Limited), Black Box Diaries (Limited)

Streaming Releases:

Hot Frosty (Netflix): Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls) stars in this newest Netflix Christmas movie as a woman who is gifted a red scarf that she puts on a statuesque snowman, causing him to magically come to life in the form of a buff (and naked) Dustin Milligan. Directed by Toronto’s own Jerry Ciccoritti, and written by Hallmark veteran Russell Hainline, Hot Frosty plays as a mix of corny one-joke premise and something closer to a sappy romance. This clash of tones is pretty obvious, but the film is still mildly amusing in places? It’s exactly what you expect; a fluffy, turn-your-brain-off holiday diversion. Craig Robinson and Joe Lo Truglio provide comic relief as the town sheriff and his deputy.

More Releases: Emilia Pérez (Netflix), An Almost Christmas Story (Disney+), Cross (Prime Video)