As a seasoned action movie enthusiast who has seen his fair share of blockbusters and B-movies alike, I must confess that “Carry-On” left me a tad underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate the adrenaline-pumping sequences and the star-studded cast, but there were certain aspects that didn’t quite align with my expectations of a well-crafted thriller.
CAUTION: The following content reveals almost the whole storyline of the 2024 Netflix release of ‘Carry-On’. If you haven’t watched this movie yet, tread carefully as you… continue to read. After all, that’s what we’re doing here – ‘carrying on’ with our discussion.
As a movie buff who loves a good dose of action during the festive season, like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, I’m thrilled to notice an increase in holiday-themed thrillers, such as Carry-On. However, despite the success and wide acclaim of the latest non-conventional Christmas movie that recently joined Netflix’s library, it won’t be joining my cherished cinematic holiday traditions.
In my opinion, Director Jaume Collet-Serra’s film, featuring Taron Egerton as an LAX TSA agent who is forced to allow a questionable package onto a plane, reminded me at times of a delightful and smart ’90s action movie revival. Regrettably, I frequently found myself frustrated by illogical incoherence and unnecessary scenes and details that grated on me. Let me clarify by outlining five specific aspects of the movie, titled Carry-On, which made for a somewhat rocky viewing experience for me.
The Airport Security Complaints Montage
In recent times, airport security procedures have sparked debate, including instances like when the TSA declared peanut butter a liquid on their platform. Given this, it’s understandable that a film featuring a TSA agent as its protagonist might choose to humorously portray the criticisms they frequently face. However, in my view, the movie “Carry-On” didn’t tackle the issue with more effort or thoughtfulness than necessary, appearing rather lackadaisical in its approach.
The film takes a moment to present clips of unruly travelers arguing with TSA agents that are filled with the most generic and obvious jokes you could conceive regarding the subject. To make matters worse, the “humorous” montage is awkwardly wedged in after the main terrorist plot has been established, fervently disrupting the high-stakes tone. Not that it might have improved it, but I think the scene would have at least felt more appropriate if it occurred before Egerton’s Ethan Kopek receives the earpiece from the villain known only as Traveler (Jason Bateman).
Jason Bateman’s Traveler Is Too Chatty
Regarding Traveler, I feel that action movies often succeed or fail based on their villain, and unfortunately, Bateman’s character in “Carry-On” didn’t work for me. Don’t get me wrong, I admire the Ozark cast member’s acting skills, as he certainly captures the chilling essence of a ruthless middleman convincingly. However, my problem lies in his excessive dialogue. He just talks too much.
The film seems less suspenseful due to Traveler’s habit of speaking freely when communicating with Ethan through an earpiece at inopportune moments. Given that Bateman’s characters are often chatty and comedic, it became challenging for me to perceive him as a credible character. His outlandish dialogue, like the one about the tree in the Serengeti, didn’t help either. That particular story, intended to build tension before a significant character’s demise, instead undermined the suspense significantly, in my opinion.
Supporting Characters’ Reactions To Lionel’s Death Are Hilariously Robotic
In simpler terms, by “major character death,” I mean the scene where Curtiss Cook’s character, Lionel Williams (a senior airport security officer), dies due to a heart attack instigated by Traveler. Although the preceding Serengeti story might seem absurd, I found this moment to be skillfully executed and impactful emotionally. However, I felt that the responses of the other characters to the tragedy seemed unusually devoid of emotion, which struck me as humorous or unconvincing.
Fellow TSA agents and LAX employees who have supposedly known and worked with this man for years respond to his death with dialogue as simple as, “Damn, that’s messed up,” or “So tragic,” which is only made more laughable by the inhumanly flat delivery. A friend of mine described the movie in conversation with me as feeling like it was A.I.-generated and I think that this is the best evidence for that argument.
Theo Rossi’s Watcher Is All Over The Place
Regarding Bateman’s Traveler, despite my reservations about him, he holds his ground alongside iconic villains such as Hans Gruber from Die Hard and Dennis Hopper’s Howard Payne in Speed. In comparison to his partner, portrayed by Theo Rossi, this character – credited simply as “Watcher” – initially appears as a somewhat subdued adversary. I found myself forgetting that he was even part of the story whenever scenes shifted away from him during the movie’s first half.
In the course of events, when the Watcher found himself liberated to abandon the van and pursue Ethan’s pregnant girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), he unexpectedly morphed into an exaggerated antagonist, flashing a chilling grin reminiscent of Beavis and Butt-Head. The memorable action villains I referred to earlier are iconic because they chose a singular characterization – whether cold or eccentric – and remained steadfast in it. If the Watcher’s demeanor had been more uniform, I would have enjoyed his role much more.
Too Many Convenient Plot Devices
As a fan of intricately crafted thrillers, I’m prepared to overlook some inconsistencies – even those found in the classic movie Die Hard. Yet, with Carry-On, these logical lapses and convenient plot devices appeared too frequently, particularly in the climax. Here are some of the most obvious instances that caught my attention:
- In the baggage handling area, Ethan happens to find a suitcase marked as a check bag that perfectly matches the Traveler’s. Off camera, he puts the nerve gas bomb inside the twin suitcase, allowing it to fall out of Traveler’s possession when he boards.
- After Jesse (Adam Stephenson) learns that Mateo (Tonatiuh) is dead, instead of appearing distraught over losing his husband, he has the composure to mention that the suitcase was meant to fly to Washington D.C. Ethan, having been informed the bomb was meant to go to New York, is then able to use this information to board the correct plane in the nick of time and defuse the bomb before it is too late.
- Ethan is able to get himself inside the plane to D.C. by entering its cargo hold within seconds right before it takes off. I have a hard time believing that this would be as easy as turning a knob.
Given that the movie “Carry-On” garnered a 85% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s refreshing to know I’m in the minority with my opinion. Here’s hoping my thoughts haven’t tainted your experience! Keep enjoying this action-packed holiday film as it remains a cherished choice for many.
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2024-12-21 19:07