THE STORY – A young TSA agent fights to outsmart a mysterious traveler who blackmails him into letting a dangerous package slip onto a Christmas Eve flight.
THE CAST – Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Logan Marshall-Green, Dean Norris, Sinqua Walls & Jason Bateman
THE TEAM – Jaume Collet-Serra (Director) & TJ Fixman (Screenwriter)
THE RUNNING TIME – 119 Minutes
Holiday travel might as well be its own circle of hell, given how chaotic, stressful, and idiotic almost every situation is at an airport. Now you can feel all those same emotions from the comfort of your home with Netflix’s latest thrilling action film “Carry-On.” As convoluted and ridiculous as this movie gets at times, it’s also wildly gripping and endlessly entertaining, as a TSA agent must outsmart a sneaky traveler trying to get a dangerous suitcase on board a flight. It’s the 2024 version of “Die Hard,” a type of film that will draw almost anyone in, especially as it digs into our worst fears and might even become a new Christmas classic.
A silent, mysterious man (Jason Bateman) arrives at a Christmas tree farm to pick up a shipment of Novichok, a nerve agent, from a group of Russians. Before they can get to know one another, the Russians meet their untimely death, and our mystery man heads off with a red string and deadly suitcase. He’s about to make many people’s holidays quite difficult when he heads off to LAX, where low-level TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) works. Much excitement is happening in Ethan’s life, including news that his girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) is pregnant with their first child. And yet, he’s bogged down by the uncertainty that the future holds, especially because he was not accepted into the police academy. His lack of ambition has kept him from advancing at work – although, who could blame him, as working for the TSA at an airport sounds like a nightmare – but just when he decides to show some initiative, it ends up being during the worst day possible.
Manning the security scanners on Christmas Eve, a mysterious earpiece makes its way to him. Just as he’s about to dispose of it, he receives an urgent text message telling him to put it in his ear. And then, we hear the eerie sounds of our dangerous friend from the beginning of the film. In a cool and calm tone, he tells Ethan that all he has to do is nothing; let an associate with the suitcase through security and onto his flight, where 250 passengers will meet their fate. This is when we all say, “Oh, this is gonna get good.”
Director Jaume Collet-Serra knows exactly how to up the ante for “Carry-On” because he’s been doing it for years (consider his previous horror/thriller works “House of Wax,” “Orphan,” and “The Shallows”). The camerawork and editing are slick and exciting, especially as Ethan (and us at home) tries to find where this voice is coming from, all while security cameras can see his every move. Making these sequences even more gripping are all the creative ways he tries to get help and send messages to people around him, only for his plans to be foiled time and time again. Egerton perfectly fits into the role of this unlikely hero with his charismatic attitude and, as we see later in the film, physical prowess to take down this harrowing plan. It shouldn’t be surprising to see him in a role such as this, given his work as a rebellious spy who, similarly enough, has to stop an eco-terrorism plot in “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” While Bateman is known for his outstanding comedic work, he takes on the cold demeanor of a true killer here with such ease, channeling the darkest, chilliest parts of his “Ozark” character.
Things start to get muddled when we uncover this traveler’s evil plan. After visiting the crime scene at the Christmas tree farm, Officer Elena Cole (an always great Danielle Deadwyler) begins to piece together who may have their hands on the Novichok, where they’re headed, and what they want to do with it. The details are hard to follow as more information is revealed – including connections to Washington, D.C., a Congress member, and Russian suppliers. In the end, it doesn’t matter because you’re not watching this movie for that; you’re here to watch crazy action. Lucky for you, as the film goes on, the story continues on its ridiculous path in the best way possible. Fights and action sequences make great use of the airport setting, like one scene taking place on luggage conveyor belts. Each time Ethan threatens to blow the lid off this plot, the traveler has some new evil trick up his sleeve to teach him a lesson. And when Ethan comes face-to-face with the Novichok and the mystery man, you’re holding your breath and hoping he won’t make the wrong move. It would all be even better if the film was kept to 90 minutes rather than its overstretched two-hour runtime.
If you’re looking for the next “Die Hard” Christmasy action film, then “Carry-On” is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, borderline campy in some respects, and has excellent performances from Egerton and Bateman. Does it get so absurd that it’s hilarious and a total trip to watch? Absolutely, and you love to see it. With thriller aficionado Collet-Serra in the director’s seat, he gives us just the right amount of excitement we need this holiday season.
