Carry-On

• Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
• December 13, 2024
• Netflix

A TSA agent is blackmailed by a stranger into allowing a deadly toxin on a flight during Christmas Eve.

Direct-to-Netflix has been very hit or miss for me. For every Extraction there are one or more Red Notices. Good sounding movies that never quite are. Carry-On is a film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman that won me over if for nothing else than the most original song choice in a fight scene. Never thought I would see the day when Last Christmas was used in a fight scene but here we are. Weird how good that was.

On the busiest travel day of the year directionless TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) must save his pregnant girlfriend Nora Parisi (Sofia Carson) who is being targeted by a mysterious stranger (Jason Bateman) with the goal of committing a planned terrorist attack (or assassination depending on how you look at it).

Part of the effectiveness of this movie is that they tease the reveal of the villain’s face. We all know it’s Jason Bateman based on his voice but it’s the anticipation that keeps you waiting. For those that don’t recognize the voice it is more effective. Too often filmmakers hand you everything upfront. For me once the character had been established I NEEDED to see Bateman’s face to connect him to the character.

The teasing goes beyond that. What’s going on is parsed out in drips and drabs. You don’t get the truth right away. It’s slowly revealed to the viewer as either the character of Ethan discovers something or something is revealed out of necessity by the villain.

Bateman is amazing. A cold type of evil. Jason Bateman’s villain can be likable, but you know he’s ultimately evil. I’m old enough to remember him from shows like sitcom It’s Your Move or on The Hogan Family (originally Valerie and then Valerie’s Family after original star Valerie Harper left the show) and I never saw this coming from him. The man has some serious talent as a villain actor.

Taron Egerton does well as the driven man trying to save his pregnant girlfriend as well as eventually 250 people on an airplane. He has given up on things a bit with the only real thing he has going for him being his relationship. Because of some personal baggage he is a bit lost and directionless. Ethan’s motivations are understandable and things occur realistically. I like that he’s not insanely capable when the situation comes. He has some skills, but he’s not superhuman.

Nora is not just a damsel in distress who must be she saved. She’s not just a screaming woman freaking out because of the villain. She is Ethan’s emotional anchor and the one who motivates him in one way or the other. She also puts some effort in to dealing with the threat once she knows the situation and helps out in ways only her character can. Nora works in LAX operations which allows her access and freedom that Ethan does not.

While smart moves by Ethan certainly help, aid also comes in the form of a suspicious cop named Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler). No one character is overly powered or capable. Most characters contribute in some way to solving the problem. I have to say that with a bit of a caveat.

Ethan has a best friend Jason (Sinqua Walls) working with him that doesn’t get too much development beyond being the best friend and original target of Jason Bateman. I guess he is to make a few moments sad or tragic but with everything else that happened in the movie recalling his existence was tough. His two moderately worthwhile moments could have been covered by a nameless character. I am not even sure why he factored into the post finale scene.

The story lays out elements early on that play out later in the film such as the exploding of the plastic gun. I just don’t know how many bullets that thing has. That man must’ve fired 100 shots before it exploded in his hand.

I groaned a tad when the reveal of what the whole plot was about. Rather than being Russians as first implied it’s just the evil military industrial complex. Even if it was not Russians there are more likely plotters than arms dealers trying to stoke war and keep the contracts flowing by killing the lone voice against them in the most spectacular way possible. Sounds like the plot of The Concorde…Airport ’79 a bit.

Despite that the film is good. The directing smart. The performances excellent with each character distinct. The film even at about two hours is tight. While the friend was unnecessary he didn’t bring things down and the reason for the whole plot seemed less likely than some other options. Even so the meat of the movie is excellent.

Carry-On was a pleasant surprise. This was a hit. Engrossing and exciting and just entertaining. Well worth your time.