BOTTOM LINE
Decent Airport Thriller
Platform
Netflix
What Is the Film About?
Ethan Kopek is a Los Angeles International Airport TSA agent, overseeing the X-ray machine. While adapting to a new role, a mysterious traveller threatens him of killing his girlfriend Nora, in case he doesn’t allow a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. While trying to do his duty and save Nora, Ethan must do everything it takes to outsmart the villain.
Performances
After making a mark with the ‘Kingsman’ franchise, Taron Egerton successfully shoulders a film with a controlled performance in the shoes of a vulnerable yet righteous TSA agent. Sofia Carson shares a warm on-screen camaraderie with Taron as the empathetic partner, delivering the goods in a brief yet well-written part. Jason Bateman has the right authoritarian presence to be the badass villain.
It’s interesting how Danielle Deadwyler brings nuance to an otherwise basic role of a cop, almost hinting at the inner demons she must be confronting as well. The supporting cast – comprising Theo Rossi, Dean Norris, Sinqua Walls and others – slip into their roles seamlessly, letting the narrative take centre stage.
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Analysis
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Carry On is an unlikely Christmas thriller on the lines of Die Hard and our very own ‘A Wednesday’, where a man in a uniform must negotiate with the ‘bad guy’ to save one among his own and fight for a larger cause. There’s a remarkable simplicity in the focused, no-frills execution of the film set at an airport, where the taut narration and the smart writing keep you on the edge.
The film purposely starts on a sluggish note, but it helps in providing a window into Ethan’s life. The transportation security officer is in two minds about his girlfriend’s pregnancy. While at work, Ethan expects more validation and acknowledgement for his righteousness and minces no words in stating the same to his superior. He gets his due but has a nightmarish start in a new role.
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Minutes into a new day at work, Ethan receives a call from an anonymous traveller about allowing a mysterious package that could blow a plane apart. He’s being monitored from all corners and his pregnant girlfriend’s life is under threat. To help him understand the gravity of the situation, the terrorist kills his colleague through a drug-induced heart attack. Basically, Ethan has no choice.
Though the tale is structured like a thriller, the film is largely about conversations that offer a peek into the psyche of the antagonist and his victim. There’s something voyeuristic about the bad guy; he has a lot to say about the world we live in, tries to tinker with Ethan and Nora’s relationship, plays around with Ethan’s vulnerabilities and reinstates his authority from time to time.
While the film’s focus remains on Ethan and the task ahead of him, the narrative also unfolds through the lens of a cop Elena Cole, who tries to decode the conspiracy and the modus operandi of the attack. So, the battle is among the bad buys and two officials in uniform, doing their best to safeguard the lives of the public.
The plot keeps throwing newer challenges at Ethan – he nearly kills a colleague and even gets one of them off duty – but his instincts help him stay in the hunt. Cleverly, the film doesn’t delve too much into the political agenda of the antagonists. From a scientific perspective too, there’s no unnecessary jargon. It tells you only what you need to know.
Its USP is the thrills aided by hand-in-mouth situations, slick action choreography and performances. In times when films try to do a lot beyond entertainment, Carry On is a thriller that sticks to its purpose with a concise narrative (that mostly doesn’t run out of gas). It’s basically the director Jaume Collet-Serra telling you ‘go, watch and have fun’ in the comfort of your homes.
Overall, Carry-On Netflix can be enjoyed if you don’t look for logic and ignore the frequent silliness in airport setup. It offers consistently engaging proceedings and makes for a decent watch at home.
Music and Other Departments?
Lorne Balfe’s score contributes to the tense, anxious mood of the film, that’s equally atmospheric and raises the stakes with its intensity whenever necessary. Within the constraints of the film’s backdrop, cinematographer Lyle Vincent efficiently provides a bird’s eye view of his ambience without compromising on the slick visuals.
The decision to rope in three editors – Fred Raskin, Elliot Greenberg and Krisztian Majdik – pays off, resulting in a coherent, neatly structured narrative that knows its elasticity. While staying true to the situation, the smartly written dialogues offer a glimpse of the characters beyond the scope of the story and enhance the impact of the film.
Highlights?
Neat, thrilling screenplay
Good performances
Slick execution, technical finesse
Drawbacks?
Slow start
Too many cinematic liberties
The dialogues get on your nerves occasionally
Frequent instances of silliness in airport security
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for the suspense, but I had to overlook the lack of logic.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, it makes for a decent watch at home.
Carry-On Netflix Movie Review by M9
