Introduction

TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, love them or hate them, keeps us safe every day. As someone who knows a thing or two about security, I can tell you that what TSA does will never be fully understood by the traveling public. Sadly, their reputation isn’t the best. So, I was surprised when I learned that director Jaume Collet-Serra (known for House of Wax, Orphan, and Black Adam) was directing a film about the TSA and a potential threat one officer would face that could lead to the loss of numerous lives.

Titled Carry-On, this action-packed, Christmas-themed movie seemed like it was going to be a disaster and made me roll my eyes. However, after watching the nearly two-hour film, I was truly surprised for many reasons. Released on Netflix, Carry-On could be the next big Christmas movie…and that is shocking! Here’s my review of Carry-On.

Watch the Official Trailer

Story

TSO Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is a soon-to-be father, wondering if his TSA career is truly the path he wants to continue. His girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson), who works at LAX as a manager for a fictional airline, encourages him to pursue a different career, like becoming a police officer again. She doesn’t want him to get stuck in a job that doesn’t fit his ambitions. Meanwhile, an unknown man (Jason Bateman) begins to set up a terrorist threat that could change the landscape of airline travel forever. Due to sudden changes, Ethan ends up taking over the X-ray machine instead of a fellow officer and unexpectedly obtains an earpiece from the unknown man. The man threatens to kill Ethan’s girlfriend and possibly many others if Ethan doesn’t let a bag pass through security. Now, Ethan must find a way to warn his superiors and the police before the terrorist unleashes devastation.

Carry-On’s premise mixes pseudo-realism with complete absurdity, but that works for the overall story. Ethan, as a TSA officer, is thrust into a situation that seems possible, but the way it unfolds is highly unlikely. We rarely see TSA officers in such a surreal situation, and I can’t help but wonder how they would handle it. Similarly, the chaos that ensues, with police getting involved and escalating the threat with little information, initially seems improbable. However, as ridiculous as it all is, it makes for an entertaining story. The ending is a bit predictable—I guessed how things would unfold near the end—but even then, I enjoyed Carry-On’s story.

Acting & Cast

Taron Egerton (known for The Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Jason Bateman (known for Ozark, Horrible Bosses) steal the show in Carry-On. Ethan’s girlfriend, played by Sofia Carson, did a decent job despite her limited screen time, and Ethan’s supervisor, Dean Norris (known for Breaking Bad), also had some solid moments. However, it’s the two main protagonists who truly carry the film. The lesser characters didn’t fail in their roles, but they were overshadowed. One of the other characters I enjoyed was LAPD detective Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler), who is a bit silly at times and doesn’t exactly exude the typical professionalism of a police officer, but she adds an interesting dynamic to the film.

I feel Carry-On could have benefited from more star power to elevate the story. However, I wonder if too much acting talent could have ruined the film’s campy but fun nature. Having experience with TSA officers, I can say the acting was on par with what I’ve observed. Not all TSA officers are overly exaggerated (though you’ll know who I mean within the first ten minutes), but the film captures some of their quirky characteristics. Overall, Carry-On has a decent cast, and the acting is solid, which enhances the film’s enjoyment.

Cinematography & Direction

With a movie like Carry-On, there isn’t much room for groundbreaking cinematography. While there is a solid car chase (that’s equally outrageous), most of the film consists of Ethan walking around looking distressed, running to various areas, or focusing on side characters who have something they need to do. It sounds simplistic, but that’s really what happens. One TSA officer walks into a room because he has to. There are also moments when the supervisor is just randomly looming, which makes me wonder, “Why?” I’ve been to airports and seen TSA in action, but I’ve never seen a TSA checkpoint quite like the one in Carry-On. I can only guess that director Jaume Collet-Serra had to avoid filming too many TSA similarities for security reasons, but I do wonder if he could have done more justice to LAX.

What Jaume Collet-Serra does get right is the direction Carry-On takes. This straightforward film rarely deviates from its intended path. It follows the typical setup, major event, revelation, and conclusion. While that may seem like basic storytelling, it works wonders for a movie that focuses purely on action and drama. Where Carry-On falters is when it tries to take itself too seriously. There are moments where Bateman’s and Egerton’s performances almost show off their acting chops too much. A perfect example (without spoilers) occurs when Bateman’s character meets Ethan for the first time. Their encounter almost feels overly dark. Yes, there’s a bomb at LAX, and lives are on the line, but just moments earlier, Ethan was trying to pinpoint the villain based on chip-eating sounds and random noises.

I’ll tell you this: nearly every busy airport is filled with sounds, and focusing on a specific sound is like finding a needle in a haystack. When Carry-On sticks to thrilling action, it works, but occasionally, it tries to be more than it should.

Conclusion

With movies like Die Hard and Turbulence, it’s hard to say Carry-On will become the next big Christmas classic. That said, despite its flaws and sometimes goofy moments, Carry-On is a two-hour film I enjoyed watching from start to finish with a smile on my face. I can even see a sequel being made, as there are a few lingering story elements that might have been intentionally left open. If you need a fun action movie to watch with family and friends this Christmas, boot up Netflix and watch Carry-On!

—Aaron