Carry-On Movie Review: An Adrenaline Thriller That Would Like to Be Die Hard
Carry-On Movie Review: Carry-On is the classic action thriller that tries to nail its viewer to the screen with typical genre tricks, with its “atmosphere the whole world is against me” typical of cult films like Die Hard. Set in one of the most anxiety-provoking and chaotic scenarios in the modern world — an airport on Christmas Eve — the film transforms the daily routine of a TSA agent (the police force that deals with transport safety) into a desperate race against time. Ethan Kopek, played by Taron Egerton, is a common protagonist, a man stuck in a life that does not satisfy him, but which, despite himself, is at the center of an international intrigue. Films that mix genres, hiding one inside the other as in a game of Chinese boxes, are a joy for those who love cinema. Of course, you must know how to do it, balancing the doses well, just like preparing a dish with a complex flavor. Christmas movies disguised as something else are species.
A specific trend is that of the stories set during the holidays that embrace the action: the undisputed masterpiece of this tradition of (above all) American cinema is Die Hard. And it is no coincidence that the screenplay of the film with Bruce Willis is studied in universities. Carry-On of Jaume Collet-Serra fits right into this furrow, exploiting the expressive and physical qualities of a versatile talent such as Taron Egerton. The English actor is Ethan Kopek, an aspiring policeman, who however has never been able to pass the selections to obtain the badge and has therefore folded back on a job as a security controller at Los Angeles airport. His fiancée Nora also works there (Sofia Carson), which plays an office role. His life has settled on an always equal, habitual daily life, which, after all, suits him well. There are no big chills in Ethan’s life. At least until Christmas day, a mysterious figure without a face and name enters his cap, with precise indications: he must pass on the checks baggage with something very dangerous inside. If he refuses people, they will die, including Nora. Streaming on Netflix, Carry-On is pure entertainment, which holds breath until the last few minutes.
Carry-On Movie Review: The Story Plot
Ethan Kopek embodies the perfect “ordinary hero”, a man who dreams of being more, but who seems to have been relegated to a secondary role. Former athlete, aspiring failed cop, and now frustrated TSA agent, Ethan only wants a second chance to prove his worth. It is this desire for redemption that leads him to ask his boss (Dean Norris) to put him “on the front line”, at the checkpoints. But what seems like a small step forward in his career soon turns into a nightmare with his eyes open. Someone starts threatening him through a headset, endangering the woman he loves if he doesn’t pass a suitcase containing something extremely dangerous.
Jason Bateman plays a ruthless and charming villain. It has no name, it is only “the Mysterious Traveler”, and this halo of mystery makes it even more disturbing. Armed with a calm and threatening voice, Bateman orchestrates the entire operation by manipulating Ethan like a puppet. Bateman’s choice is spot on his charisma, his glacial calm, and his way of dialoguing with Ethan make their “relationship” the true soul of the film. Bateman is not the brutal and aggressive bad classic, but a sneaky and strategic villain, which makes him even more fearful.
Carry-On Movie Review and Analysis
Los Angeles airport has become a hellish maze, with narrow corridors, luggage that moves on conveyor belts, and surveillance cameras everywhere. In this context, Collet-Serra’s direction does an excellent job of creating tension. The choice of close-up shots of Egerton’s face, with narrow close-ups of his sweaty and worried face, makes the viewer feel trapped with him. Every gesture and every look of Ethan is full of tension, and when the Mysterious Traveler threatens his pregnant companion (Sofia Carson), the pressure rises to the stars. The script by T.J. Fixman plays his cards well, taking advantage of the clichés of the action thrillers but with a pinch of novelty. Collet-Serra knows when to focus on spectacularity – with well-orchestrated action scenes – and when to focus on the inner drama of the characters, and this balance keeps the audience glued to the end.
Although the premises are simple and at times predictable, Carry-On knows how to entertain. The rhythm of the film grows constantly, starting slow and methodically and then exploding in a second part made of races, shootings, and action moments. Here, Taron Egerton turns into a sort of “Tom Cruise from Discount”, with endless runs through the corridors of the airport and worthy stunts (almost …) of Mission: Impossible. Collet-Serra seems to want to play with the archetypes of action movies, making the verse to films like Die Hard (the “good agent stuck in a system bigger than him”) and Speed (the growing tension that never stops). But his strength lies in not taking himself too seriously. This is also demonstrated by the irony of some dialogues and how the action scenes seem to challenge logic (but who cares, if you have fun?).
Carry-On is not a revolutionary film and does not want to be. Rather, is an excellent “sofa film”, to watch with friends or family, possibly with a little sarcasm at hand. It is the type of film that Netflix loves to show in December: not too demanding, with a charismatic protagonist and action scenes full of adrenaline. Jason Bateman’s performance is one of the most welcome surprises, with his villain as charming as he is sneaky. Egerton, for his part, shows that he can bear the weight of a film all on his shoulders, even if at times it seems not to be in his element. The direction of Collet-Serra keeps the tension alive, giving a couple of moments of “wow” (a scene on the highway, in particular). If you are looking for the new Die Hard, you may be disappointed. But if you are looking for a compelling thriller, with a plot that does not force you to “think too much” but still keeps you in suspense, then Carry-On is the right choice.
Carry-On is not the first film of this genre that be produced, on the contrary: there are many others like him. The difference between this and all the others is the interesting attention paid to ’information. In the ’it was social networks and the internet when all our lives were easily reconstructed and identifiable, true power lies in information. Many other times a film told us the story of a good person who was blackmailed by the bad guy on duty to commit a crime. I think of Firewall, In line with the Killer, Collateral, and many other titles. But for the first time, the bad guy on duty is a harmless-looking man played by someone we are used to seeing in very different clothes. Clothes are almost always comical. Those who know the actor recognize immediately his voice in the original and his usual voice actor in the Italian version, for all the others the appearance of Jason Batman will be a surprise.
The less surprising it will be the skill of Taron Egerton in transforming a mediocre and dreamless man into a good person who would never tolerate the responsibility of having allowed a massacre. Also demonstrate that you have a guaranteed future, if you wish, in action films. Carry-On is a film loaded with tension and, above all, a film that puts it there in direct contact with the protagonist: all the time, we desperately wish someone help him. We hope that at least one person will be made aware of the real reason for his actions. We hope for his immediate rehabilitation and the intervention of someone – or something – who can help him prevent the worst. While the detective Cole (Danielle Deadwyler, Paradise Lost) follows her intuition, time flows, inexorably. Carry-On reminds us of how precious the emotional bond between the public and the protagonist character is for the success of a story.
There is also another interesting aspect of this film. A theme very current which, in addition to the terrorist threat, is linked to our day. I refer to impatience and rudeness but also terrible ignorance that airport inspectors have to endure every day dealing with a large number of people. Think about what it might mean to suffer all this while also working on Christmas Eve and you will have a picture of the situation. A story that is certainly not new or particularly original manages to entertain properly thanks to the excellent cast, fast pace, excellent direction, and suggestive setting. The memory immediately runs at 58 minutes to die, the second film of Die Hard’s saga, in which, however, the Christmas atmosphere thanks to the snow and decorations was much more present. In Carry-On we are in Los Angeles and the sun shines. The only real Christmas element is the Last Christmas presence of the Whams! in a key scene. So be careful to wait for Christmas to see the film if you participate in the Whamageddon.
Carry-On Movie Review: The Last Words
Carry-On manages to keep the tension high, thanks to a pressing direction and the effective use of claustrophobic settings. However, there are some typical cliches of action films, and the script does not explore the moral dilemma of the protagonist in depth. Jason Bateman’s performance as the villain is one of the strengths, while Taron Egerton manages to make credible the evolution of an ordinary man into an improvised hero. It won’t be revolutionary, but it entertains and keeps glued to the screen. Carry-On is pure adrenaline for all its two hours of duration: halfway between thrillers, westerns, and Christmas films, it stands on the shoulders of Taron Egerton, a versatile actor who, even here, is not disappointed. If you have ever wondered what happens at airports when suitcases disappear on the conveyor belts you will have an answer as imaginative as it is intriguing.
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Dean Norris
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3/5 (three stars)
Carry-On Movie Review: An Adrenaline Thriller That Would Like to Be Die Hard - Filmyhype
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Date Created: 2024-12-13 12:55
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Pros
- Constant tension: the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra keeps the adrenaline high.
- Extraordinary Jason Bateman: a sneaky and charming villain.
- Well-exploited claustrophobic environment: the airport becomes a perfect battlefield.
Cons
- Predictable plot: some twists are called.
- Not too profound script: the moral dilemma could have been better developed.
- Final a little forced ’: some choices seem dictated by the need to close the circle.
