This Christmas Eve thriller now streaming on Netflix is Die Hard for a new generation.
Even if Netflix is not getting as much attention heading into awards season for their more prestigious films as they have in years past, they’re going into the holidays with a strong lineup of genre films. From Rebel Ridge to What’s Inside, and Woman of the Hour, it’s a commendable group of films that has generated plenty of buzz lately. And now arriving this weekend is Carry-On, which may be the strongest of the group. Thanks to its cast, thrills, and especially with more than enough twists, beginning just minutes after it takes off in the opening sequence, to hook you in and have you wondering how the film will stick the landing. Just in time for Christmas this new thriller, now streaming on Netflix and taking place over the course of Christmas Eve, is an instant addition to the library of films you should watch every holiday season (if you love action, of course).
Carry-On finds TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) and his girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) checking into work at Los Angeles airport on Christmas Eve. Shortly after checking in, Ethan gets a mysterious call from an unknown traveler (Jason Bateman) telling him to let a carry-on package through security without a hitch or there will be consequences for his girlfriend, whom the guy just happens to have more than enough personal information on to make his case with the agent. As Ethan looks for a solution, he finds the task much more complicated because he has eyes on him from all angles.
Does Carry-On amount to anything we haven’t seen before? Of course not. And does it sound like a hybrid between Die Hard and perhaps Cellular? Perhaps. However, with more twists and turns than luggage making its way through the complicated airport sorting systems, established action thriller director Jaume Collet-Serra keeps this gripping cat-and-mouse game going throughout its entire runtime. There are some nifty entertaining sequences playing throughout the entire the airport as the film progresses that you would not expect, and Collet-Serra makes sure to keep us on our toes when it comes to the carry-on package at the center of the story – from the angle of both the protagonist and antagonist. Oh, and just like that same airport luggage moving through an airport terminal, the film flies by in just under two hours.
Carry-On is led by Taron Egerton, who embodies a character that well suits the young actor. Playing the role of a TSA agent with ease may have us looking back on this performance as the one that transformed him from a budding actor into an actual star. Think of Taron in this role as being akin to Bruce Willis getting his big break in Die Hard (you know, another action thriller that’s a certified Christmas movie). Other established actors Sofia Carson and Danielle Deadwyler are good in their roles as Ethan’s girlfriend and a law enforcement agent respectively. But the star of Carry-On is everybody’s favorite Jason Bateman, who is devilishly excellent as the villain and steals the show here. No matter what the project is, Jason Bateman always seems to elevate whatever he’s attached to, and that’s abundantly evident in Carry-On, where he acts like a confident puppet master, totally without remorse, seeking a huge payday.
If you look at the year in film for Netflix, it is clear that they are steering away from bigger swings in areas that potentially include prestigious awards players and big budget films. And if you’re Netflix, it makes sense given that most fans use the platform as comfort food. So, for the streamer, mid-level budget films are the route to go with genre films that have helped carry the industry from decade to decade, and that’s exactly what you get with Carry-On. No, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or blow you away. But this action thriller that operates in an old school fashion is far more entertaining than many of this year’s other releases, making it just the type of movie Netflix should invest more of its time and money in. Take note and maybe have filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra on the payroll as a consultant for future projects, Netflix.