A One Mann’s Movies review of “Carry On” (2024).
There have been more attempts to emulate the joy of “Die Hard” than I can count. But few have so blatantly set the story at Christmas-time as “Carry On”, new on Netflix, does. Many of those Die-Hard-Wannabes have been painful to watch. But this offering really manages to deliver the goods. Yippee Ky-Yay!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Carry On” Plot Summary:
Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) and his newly-pregnant girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) both work at LAX airport. Nora runs operations there and Ethan in an unsatisfying job in TSA security. When Ethan pushes for more responsibility, he gets put onto scanner duty. But little does he know how his first day will unfold as he becomes the target for a team of mercenary terrorists led by an unnamed man in black (Jason Bateman).
Certification:
UK: 15; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Injury detail, violence”)
Talent:
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Tonatiuh,
Logan Marshall-Green, Dean Norris, Sinqua Walls, Curtiss Cook.
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra.
Written by: T.J. Fixman.
Running Time: 1h 59m.
“Carry On” Summary:
Positives:
- Fun, adrenaline-fuelled action.
- The leading acting team do a great job, particularly Egerton, Bateman and Deadwyler.
Negatives:
- Requires a suitable suspension of belief in the third act.
Review of “Carry On”:
Die Hard 2 without the sadistic plane crash.
Director Jaume Collet-Serra specialises in this sort of action thriller. He’s made some cracking little films (e.g. “The Shallows“) and some real Liam Neeson stinkers (e.g. “The Commuter“; “Retribution“). This is one of his better ones and it delivers just about everything you would want from a Christmas-Die-Hard wannabe. The classic Hitchcock trope of sticking an everyman (Taron Egerton) into an impossible situation is well-delivered. Egerton’s Ethan is not some Bruce Willis-style supercop but a rather feeble man who is easily bested by Jason Bateman’s ‘Traveler’. The action scenes are well delivered and some moments – notably a dramatic car fight and its crash aftermath – extremely tense.
Yes, it mines some typical thriller tropes… an in-the-dark other-half who is exasperated by their SO’s actions; someone impersonating someone else; a different take on a bag-switch. But for all those similarities, it all feels fresh and well-done.
Carried by the acting.
Taron Egerton may have found a new niche, as he is really, really good in this everyman role. His American accent is good and he even drops in a quip about how “English people” say “Happy Christmas” which made me smile. Matching him, and playing an unusually darker role than usual is Jason Bateman. He was kind of the bad guy in “Ozark” but then you were rooting for the bad guys! Here he is blacker-than-black in his intentions and makes for a really great “boo-hiss” villain.
Daniel Deadwyler is also very good as Elena Cole. She plays the eye-rolling LAPD investigator trying to piece together a murder with a broader plot. The scene where she interprets a garbled recording and tries to Google what “Nov Chuck” might be is terrific. (BTW, I just tried that and it does not work at all…. I’m sure the manufacturers of the ‘Nova Chuck’ lathe accessory are delighted with the free publicity!)
Sofia Carson as the girlfriend isn’t really given enough to do, in a ‘running and screaming’ sort of role.
Prepare to suspend your disbelief!
Now, “Die Hard” obviously had more than its fair share of outrageously out-there moments. Like, who really can jump off a building on the end of a fire hose and then shoot his way through plate glass windows without major blood loss?!
This film, particularly in its third reel, requires a heady suspension of disbelief. There is NO WAY that Cole would let things progress the way they did. Merely at the request of Nora (Sofia Carson), someone she has only just met! Indeed, buried as they are in the middle of the terminal building, neither of them have actually verified that Ethan has achieved enough of his mission to know that they should let things unfold! Popcorn nonsense! But it makes for a very satisfying finale. Personally though, I missed a tall Russian blonde guy appearing with a machine gun to offer some post-finale peril!
Some of the action is also a little bit confusing with the intentions unclear. There is a bag swap/not a bag swap that I’m still not QUITE SURE why Ethan did what he did. Answers on a postcard.
Summary Thoughts on “Carry On”
An impressively exciting little slice of action hokum, this is one that I really enjoyed. Another little tradition to add to the future Christmas watch-list.
It’s showing on Netflix in the UK, but check out the Justwatch widget below for where it is showing in your region.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Carry On”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS0XacjMmOc.
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