As a seasoned film enthusiast with over two decades of movie-watching under my belt and countless action thrillers ticked off my list, let me tell you that “Carry-On” is not just another run-of-the-mill Christmas flick. This Netflix gem, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, serves up a heaping dose of adrenaline-pumping excitement, reminiscent of the good ol’ “Die Hard” days.

This Christmas movie isn’t your typical one. Instead, “Carry-On” is an unexpected action-packed thriller that Netflix has released at the end of the year, adding excitement to your holiday viewing lineup. The director, Jaume Collet-Serra, is famous for his previous work with Liam Neeson and Dwayne Johnson. With “Carry-On”, he along with screenwriter T.J. Fixman have created a straightforward movie reminiscent of classic action genres, heavily influenced by the “Die-Hard” series.

The story of “Carry-On” unfolds on Christmas Eve, with a mysterious figure encountering two members of the Russian mafia at a Christmas tree stand. Without disclosing his identity, this individual swiftly eliminates the mobsters and departs with an enigmatic briefcase. This unnamed character, who I’ll call the Protagonist, is portrayed by Jason Bateman in a surprising departure from his typical comedic roles, delivering a remarkable and intense performance.

In other parts of the story, we meet a young duo: Ethan (played by Taron Egerton) and Nora (Sofia Carson). They both work at Los Angeles International Airport; he in a TSA role, she managing airline operations. They’ve recently discovered that Nora is carrying their first baby, which has Ethan feeling somewhat restless due to his ongoing frustration since being turned down by the police academy. After this rejection, Ethan has spent the past three years stuck in an entry-level TSA position without any prospects for advancement.

As the gravity of his situation becomes clear, Ethan manages to persuade Dean Morris, his superior, to trust him with a promotion opportunity. He’s assigned to oversee one of the scanning machines, where an earbud is accidentally left in a tray. This incident leads to a mysterious contact from the Villain who demands that a specific carry-on bag be allowed to pass through unchecked, or else Nora will face harm. Ethan endeavors to outwit this adversary but soon realizes he’s consistently one move behind.

Detective Elena Cole, played by Danielle Deadwyler, follows the murder of two Russian mobsters to a powerful nerve agent. Her probe leads her to LAX airport, where she gets entangled in Collet-Serra’s intricate game of cat-and-mouse. The film then focuses on guiding each character across different locations while keeping viewers in suspense about the plot’s outcome. “Carry-On” effectively maintains this level of uncertainty.

It’s challenging to argue that “Carry-On” pushes the boundaries in the action-thriller genre, but as I’ve said before, not every film needs to. There’s always a place for films that are skillfully written, directed, and acted, and know exactly what kind of movie they aim to create. That’s precisely what “Carry-On” does. Kudos to Jaume Collet-Serra for having a clear vision and staying true to it. His film is all the better for it, and so are we. “Carry-On” is now available for streaming on Netflix.

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2024-12-26 18:56