REVIEW #423 Carry-On (2024)

Carry-On

Synopsis

A TSA security officer finds his Christmas Eve shift derailed by an ominous man looking to blackmail his way to smuggling a mysterious package onto a flight leaving LAX.

My Review

Carry-On delivers all of the tension and suspense you could want from a festive thriller, with director Jaume Collet-Serra leaving yet another stamp on a genre he is ever so familiar with. Taron Egerton performs really well as the films lead, portraying the pretty multi-dimensional Ethan Kopek. A character that audiences can really invest in, firstly through his relatability and then through sympathy, before we go full circle to witness Ethan fulfilling his potential. I loved the impact this film had on me as it progressed, constantly asking myself what I’d do in this impossible situation. That feeling just added to the suspense and each time Jason Bateman’s character threw in another curve ball, it would send you right back to the drawing board! I will say that it’s pretty hard to ignore the glaringly obvious plot armour aspects of the movie, detectives and homeland agents just risking an entire plane of people at the whims and trust of your average TSA agent. Of course it adds to the action and romance of the storyline but it did have me laughing at just how unrealistic that situation was. Nonetheless, Carry-on is still a wonderful addition to the festive thriller genre and it was nice to see Taron acknowledge the Die Hard inspiration, but this movie is much more festive! 

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

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