Sunday, 16 March 2025

Movie Review: Carry-On (2024)


Genre: Thriller  
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra  
Starring: Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Jason Bateman, Danielle Deadwyler  
Running Time: 119 minutes  

Synopsis: Ethan (Taron Egerton) lost all career ambition when he was rejected by the police academy, and is now satisfied with a do-minimum attitude as a Los Angeles airport security agent. While operating a luggage screening machine, he is contacted through an earpiece by "the Traveler" (Jason Bateman), who threatens to harm Ethan's pregnant wife Nora (Sofia Carson) unless a carry-on bag containing a biological weapon is allowed onto a departing plane. Ethan has to find a way to save Nora and the passengers from harm, while FBI Agent Elena (Danielle Deadwyler) rushes to investigate.

What Works Well: The production values are glossy, and the action maintains tension with breathless pacing. Jason Bateman is effective in an atypical villainous role, and the bustling setting around the airport security screening area provides a dynamic backdrop.

What Does Not Work As Well: The flimsy premise does not deserve anywhere near two hours of treatment, and the material is stretched with ever increasing doses of incredulity. The plot starts on the shaky foundation of a well-resourced but barely explained conspiracy bottlenecked by one scanning machine, but the plot holes only get larger as the meek Ethan activates his inner John McClane. In an unfortunate role, Danielle Deadwyler runs around issuing orders but is bamboozled by others at every turn.

Key Quote:
Traveler (to Ethan): All you have to do... is nothing.



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