The Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra has made transport the focus of his works on several occasions. Blackmail during a train journey for a commuter in “The Commuter” turned out to be just as nerve-wracking as the flight accompanied by an ultimatum for an air marshal in “Non-Stop”. In “Carry on” The threat now arises one step further ahead – at an airport. The thriller specialist, who stands for dynamic movement cinema, doesn't take things any quieter in his work, which was previously compared to the “Die Hard” series. Quite the opposite.
The threat of a deadly nerve gas at a busy airport at Christmas reaches a very special level of intensity. The first-ever film from a collaboration between Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Partners and Netflix could make some people consider a means of transport other than planes on their next trip. Even if the plot has to struggle with a few stumbling blocks every now and then and a few twists seem to be very contrived, Jaume Collet-Serra once again delivers a fast-paced and highly exciting action thriller.
On the move: Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek.
Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is a security guard at Los Angeles International Airport, where his now pregnant girlfriend Nora Parisi (Sofia Carson) also works. But shortly after starting his shift on Christmas Eve, a mysterious terrorist (Jason Bateman) contacts him. Together with his accomplice, he hacked into the surveillance systems and kept an eye on everything. And he threatens to shoot Nora if Kopek doesn't let the traveler Mateo Flores (Tonatiuh) and, above all, his luggage pass through the security check.
When Kopek's suitcase arrives at the security checkpoint and is examined, it contains a device that contains the neurotoxin Novichok. It is clear that it is intended to be released on board a flight and there is a risk of numerous deaths. While Ethan is desperately looking for a chance to thwart the impending catastrophe and still save the love of his life, FBI agent Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler) is simultaneously investigating the murder of a colleague who is connected to the planned attack…
On the trail of “Die Hard 2” – with less action despite more sprints
When it comes to action films set at Christmas, the comparison with “Die Hard” always comes to mind. Of course, the parallels to the first sequel “Die Hard 2” are immediately apparent here, where a mercenary group takes control of an airport and it is (essentially) up to Bruce Willis as a one-man army to take them out. But Jaume Collet-Serra handles the scenario differently than his colleague Renny Harlin did with the genre classic 34 years ago. He relies less on brutal and bloody duels and more on high speed. The “Rocketman” star Taron Egerton, who always looks stubborn and tense in keeping with the situation, is rarely allowed to fight with opponents. Instead, he has to sprint repeatedly through the reception hall, the long corridors of the secured employee areas and through the catacombs of the airport.
In this cinema of constant movement, as we know it from Collet-Serra, which hardly leaves any room to breathe, there is a high level of dynamism, so that it is not so important that there are only rarely particularly long or even outstanding action scenes. Actually, the only thing that stands out here is an uncut sequence, visibly spiced up with computer effects, in which FBI agent Elena Cole fights with the driver in a moving car on the highway and a series of crashes occur.
FBI agent Elena Cole could become an ally with her investigation.
In “Carry-On” things keep going at high speed because the script by long-time video game author TJ Fixman (“Ratchet & Clank” series) and Michael Green (“Blade Runner 2049”) is full of twists and turns. There are, among other things, secret messages with invisible ink, a fake Homeland Security officer and other blackmail victims that the nameless terrorist has involved in his perfidious game. Given the rapid progression of events, there is hardly any time to question how much of the plot actually seems rather contrived and whether Ethan, who later acts very cleverly, might be intimidated a little easily and compliantly at first. This is offset by Jason Bateman (“Air – The Big Thing”), who refreshingly goes against the (comedic) grain. As a cold-blooded blackmailer with a piercing gaze who also gives Ethan unsolicited relationship advice, he is so convincing that you understand why his victims usually follow his instructions.
While this surprise casting is reminiscent of Alan Rickman, who was once pulled out of a hat, and thus again of “Die Hard”, it doesn't quite succeed in terms of atmosphere and setting. Even though cameraman Lyle Vincent (“A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”) relies on chilled images, it seems incredibly arbitrary to have the action take place on Christmas. The sparse decorations in the airport waiting area definitely do little to add to the festive spirit. And since we are in Los Angeles, which is usually quite pleasant even in December (although filming took place in New Orleans and Cleveland), a snow flurry like in “Die Hard 2” is of course not to be expected.
Conclusion: With a fast pace and numerous twists and turns, the Netflix action thriller “Carry-On” hardly leaves any time to breathe and certainly lives up to its reputation as the “new ‘Die Hard’” – even if the upcoming Christmas classic has at least one festive or winter atmosphere is missing.