Streaming on Netflix
There are times when the bare minimum is sufficient for a decent time with a movie, even when there is still enough room for extra potential. In an age when cinema is losing its edge with no solution in sight (at least not yet), it's refreshing to see something recent that feels, and I may be saying this more often than not this year, familiar yet fresh. What we have here with Carry-On is a take on the classic nail-biting thriller Phone Booth set in an airport with a few more supporting characters and locations. Still, it works well enough to deliver a satisfying and engaging experience. Also, it has the added bonus of becoming a new, fun Christmas movie in the same vein as classics like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and The Long Kiss Goodnight. It may not be entirely on par with those gems, but it's up there.
The story follows a TSA worker named Ethan (Taron Egerton), whose girlfriend has recently become pregnant. She encourages Ethan to reevaluate his place in life as she suspects he's not totally content with his life and wants to help him get to a better place for their future. Ethan's day goes from weird to horrifying when he's presented with an earpiece, and on the other end is a stranger identifying himself as The Traveler (Jason Bateman), who blackmails Ethan to cooperate with his scheme of allowing a dangerous carry-on bag onto a specific flight or he will kill his girlfriend if not someone else he cares about. Ethan must outsmart The Traveler to save his girlfriend and countless more lives. His trial by fire is about to begin!
I found this film to be pretty enjoyable. The main cast is solid with pretty believable chemistry, and the villains are, admittedly, cartoonishly evil, but that only makes their eventual fate in the film all the more satisfying. The concept is mostly well executed, and director Jaume Collet-Serra, late of Non-Stop and The Shallows, once again showcases his talent for high-octane visuals with personal flair. Primarily when visualizing modern phone technology on the big screen, which has become his signature.
Although I found the film enjoyable overall, I felt a few aspects could have been improved.
Some casting choices, particularly the young lady playing Ethan's girlfriend, appear to have been chosen for her uncanny resemblance to Megan Fox and with even less acting talent. Some of the cinematography, while visually coherent and well-crafted for the most part, could have been toned down for some of the action scenes.
Apart from those nitpicks, Carry-On is an enjoyable and exciting thriller. It may not justify a Netflix subscription, but it will make it worth trying to see what else might be worth your attention.
Check it out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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