PG-13 | 1h 59m | Drama, Action, Thriller | 2024
Among both audiences and critics, one of the longest-running unofficial movie debates is whether or not “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie. For years I was decidedly in the “not” camp until I interviewed cast member Robert Davi, who said it is absolutely a Christmas movie.
There’s likely to be a new and similar debate surrounding “Carry-On,” the new Netflix movie starting this week. It is set almost entirely at LAX airport on Christmas Eve. The movie contains about as many Christmas references as “Die Hard,” which is to say very few.
As with “Die Hard,” “Carry-On” stars a guy (Taron Egerton as Ethan) who, by accident, becomes engaged in a battle of wits with a terrorist (a truly loathsome Jason Bateman as the “Mysterious Traveler”) in Los Angeles in late December.
Treading Professional Water
Ethan is treading water. He wanted to be a police officer but failed the test and now works as a TSA agent at LAX, but his heart isn’t in it. His pregnant live-in girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) also works at LAX as a mid-level executive for an airline. One of the perks is that they get to share lunch on a regular basis.
Realizing raising a child will require more money and commitment, Ethan presses his boss Phil (Dean Morris) for a raise and a promotion, but Phil says no. Only after Ethan’s best bud and co-worker Jason (Sinqua Walls) turns over his preferred shift does Ethan get a chance to impress Phil.
Enter ‘The Mysterious Watcher’
The Traveler is assisted in his mission by the “Mysterious Watcher” (Theo Rossi). He’s a dude in a hijacked van in possession of a hostage, and, with multiple cameras in the airport, he watches Ethan’s every move. It is because of Ethan’s astute observation skills as a would-be cop that he is able to physically ID the Traveler and try to put an end to the threat. But it doesn’t quite work out that way.This is the point where T.J. Fixman’s labyrinthine screenplay kicks into overdrive, delivering one huge plot twist after another. Every plot twist is plausible, even by frequently exaggerated action-adventure standards. It also marks the arrival of L.A. detective Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler). Cole pieces together a connection between the Traveler and recent murders of two Russians who appear in the opening scene.
The Next Bond?
After his impressive turns as a secret-agent-in-training in the first two installments of the comedic action thriller “Kingsmen” franchise, there was widespread rumors that the Welsh-born Egerton was in the running to become the next James Bond, a decision that has still yet to be made.Egerton has the range, the good looks, and enough attitude to play Bond; he’s also played some past real-life characters, such as the nebbish title character in “Eddie the Eagle” and Elton John in “Rocketman.”
In “Carry-On,” Egerton all but channels Bruce Willis in “Die Hard” (minus the smarmy smirking). If the Bond gig doesn’t pan out, he could pull a Tom Cruise, and star in multiple future action franchises.
“Carry-On” doesn’t really do anything original, but it does all of it very well, with one notable exception. At the start of the third act, the Elena character is involved in one of the most impressive gunfight/fistfight/speeding car scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Even while screening the movie on an 18-inch computer monitor, it made me dizzy, but in a good way.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the movie ends in a manner which suggests a possible sequel. As much as my heart would like see that, my head says: “Please, don’t.”
