“The Carry-On” (2024) starring Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Dannielle Deadwyler and Jason Batemen / Z-View

The Carry-On (2024)

Director:  Jaume Collet-Serra

Screenplay:  T.J. Fixman

Stars: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Logan Marshall-Green, Dean Norris, Sinqua Walls, Curtiss Cook, Joe Williamson, Gil Perez-Abraham, Benito Martinez, Adam Stephenson and Theo Rossi.

Tagline: Every holiday season, millions travel safely by air. This Christmas will be different.

The Plot…

Christmas Eve.  Ethan Kopek (Egerton) and his girlfriend Nora (Carson) just found out they’re going to have a baby.  They plan to marry.  Nora is in management for an airline.  Ethan is a TSA agent at the same airport.  Life is good.

Ethan and Nora arrive at the airport full of travelers.  They kiss and head to their jobs.  Ethan talks to his supervisor about a promotion.  Ethan’s boss is open to the suggestion.  He moves Ethan to a new position — running a baggage-scanning lane.  Things are hectic but going well… until Ethan is given an earbud that he’s told to wear.

Ethan hears a voice telling him that him being moved to the new position is unfortunate.  Ethan has a choice, let a specific carry-on case pass through or Nora will be killed.  Ethan is shocked.  How can they know about Nora so quickly?  The voice says that Ethan and Nora are being watched.  Any attempt to contact the authorities or anyone and Nora dies.  The voice tells Ethan, “all you have to do is nothing.”

Ethan quickly learns that they are watching his every move.  When Ethan gets a message to one of his co-workers, the man is killed before he can read it.  Ethan realizes he is in way over his head.

If he doesn’t do as told, Nora dies.  If he allows the carry-on through, an airplane full of Christmas travelers will die.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Carry-On is an intelligent thriller that is well directed and well cast.

Kudos to writer T.J. Fixman for creating an action picture that doesn’t depend on anyone (hero or villain) doing something stupid for the film to work.  This is T.J. Fixman’s first live action script.  I look forward to his next.

Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman make great adversaries.  Kudos also to Danielle Deadwyler and Theo Rossi – they elevate every scene they’re in. It was nice seeing Dean (Breaking Bad) Norris and Benito (The Shield) Martinez is supporting roles.

The Carry-On is surprisingly good.

The Carry-On (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.