Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans are aligned together in “Red One.” (photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)

Remember that 2012 animated action flick featuring Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy fighting the boogeyman? It cleverly transformed various traditions and cultural objects – elves, snow globes, Easter eggs – into fodder for a fantasy universe. Well, “Rise of the Guardians” ran so this holiday season’s “Red One” could walk.

“Red One” sure tries to present a unique storied world based on what folks know and perhaps love about Christmas with a twist. Combative snowmen who turn their foes into ice, a fast-talking polar bear and an ultra-fit Santa who can bench more than most seasoned gym nuts can deadlift.

Santa with a safe, edgy twist is certainly a strategy, but “Red One” still relies on many familiar elements, starting with Jack (Chris Evans), who is four levels deep on the naughty list. He cons folks, racks up gambling debt and barely sees his son (Wesley Kimmel). His latest side hustle gets him into deep trouble with a tactical force from up north.

Apparently, he aided the kidnapping of the big man, who goes by Nick (J.K. Simmons), but he’s ready to make amends for the right price. Begrudgingly, Nick’s top bodyguard Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) works with Jack to uncover Nick’s location and learn more about the mysterious captor (Kiernan Shipka).

It’s easy to see why director Jake Kasdan, who successfully revived the “Jumanji” franchise, would be permitted to gamble on an action film like this. He turned one property into two action adventures, so why not take on a holiday this time? If only he could deliver something as satisfying. “Red One” clearly has its moments and might just be a welcome break from the day’s monotony for some, but it’s clear the director’s vision was hindered by outside forces.

If you followed any of the behind-the-scenes drama, the Rock and producer Hiram Garcia (once Johnson’s assistant) allegedly caused plenty of production challenges that bloated the budget. Getting this one to theaters feels similar to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Now, it needs $500 million at the box office to break even. That seems very unlikely. For that matter, if “Red One” is still in theaters by Dec. 25, that’ll be a Christmas miracle.

Honestly, who is this film for? The content isn’t mature enough to earn its PG-13 rating (only a few curse words). The silly premise, coupled with excessive CGI, also hurts the experience. Conversely, darker visuals make this a bit of a risk for parents to take younger viewers. That’s the kind of identity crisis a blockbuster hopeful can’t afford.

Despite bad press and clunky writing, likely the outcome of Chris Morgan’s (involved in seven “Fast and Furious” films) screenplay, the outcome is not a complete dud. Evans carries the film, while The Rock enjoys a few good moments. J.K. Simmons is criminally underused. And Kristofer Hivju is enjoyable enough as Krampus, Nick’s monstrous brother with a different idea about merriment.

Mostly, all the performances are flat. Nobody stands, from Evans and Johnson to Simmons and Lucy Liu as Zoe Harlow, who oversees the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (or MORA). There seem to be big plans for more of these films, but that hope will likely remain on the wish list.

This could and should be way more fun than it is. A touch of camp, more snark, maybe even some stop-motion and a cult classic might result. Instead, it feels like another misfire akin to “Violent Night” and “The Grinch.” Such films are momentary distractions that remind us of much better holiday films throughout the decades.

Callum Drift’s (Dwayne Johnson) encounter with Krampus (Kristofer Hivju) is a high point for the movie. (photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)