It is obvious that “Red Notice” is a movie that you either love or despise. 

It’s rare for a movie to be so unanimously critiqued by both the general public as well as the most elite critics. This movie earned a measly 37% on Rotten Tomatoes and received the headline: “‘Red Notice’ Review: When the Stars Don’t Shine,” from The New York Times. Personally, I loved it.

The movie is centered around FBI Agent John Hartley, played by Dwayne Johnson, who attempts to capture Nolan Booth, played by Ryan Reynolds, a renowned art thief that is on the “Red Notice,” the world’s most-wanted list. However, during this process, Hartley is framed by another criminal who is introduced in the film shortly thereafter. 

Due to this misunderstanding, Hartley and Booth end up as roommates in a remote Russian prison. Here, they agree to team up, because Hartley wants his name to be cleared and Booth wants to return to being the number one art thief in the world. In order to achieve their goals, they plan on framing another notorious criminal, “The Bishop,” played by Gal Gadot, for the crime they were convicted of. 

The set design in “Red Notice” alone makes the movie a cinematic masterpiece. For instance, the opening scene is not only mysterious and compelling, but visually stunning as well. In this scene, Booth recreates one of Cleopatra’s eggs, the object he is trying to steal. The videographer pays much attention to detail, utilizing close-up shots of Booth applying spray paint and cutting fake gems to fully immerse you into the process. 

Later on in the movie, when Hartley and Booth are transported to the Russian prison, the incredibly detailed set design makes you feel as if you have been fully engrossed into a new reality. Every angle of the camera reveals the detail and thought put into the backdrops, costumes and special effects. 

Additionally, I was engaged through the many cameos, references and feel-good moments during the movie. For instance, there is even a part of the film where Ed Sheeran performs his hit song “Perfect” — if that’s not enough to persuade you, I don’t know what will. 

Like other legendary action movies, such as “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” it’s an amazing film that fits perfectly into the action genre.. However, “Red Notice” has the same amount of action, if not more, fit into the same time frame as “Indiana Jones:” one hour and 55 minutes. But unlike “Indiana Jones,” which felt as though it dragged on, “Red Notice” had various plot twists that left the viewer engaged until the last second.

I enjoyed watching actors I love perform visually pleasing stunts while at the same time delivering clever and entertaining dialogue. These little moments really tied the entire film together. 

Throughout “Red Notice,” you are constantly reminded not to believe everything that you see. With twists and turns presented at every possible moment, you realize that sometimes you have to trust others and ask for help, though it is always essential to remain cautious of who you are working with.

While it does have many critics, I genuinely loved the film. It is action-packed, exciting and leaves the viewer questioning what will happen next. Try something new, and give “Red Notice” a shot. It is truly an experience to remember.