‘Carry-On’ Review: Christmas Eve Airport Thriller Akin to ‘Die Hard’

There is no debate. “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, and one of the best. With the potential for a similar argument, Netflix has just dropped “Carry-On” a taut thriller written by T.J. Fixman and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

Set at LAX on Christmas Eve, there are decorations, lights, and an abundance of holiday airport travelers. The score is filled with familiar holiday songs. And like any great Christmas movie, it opens with a bloody double homicide in front a festively lit palm tree. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la!

A Modern ‘Die Hard?’

Taron Egerton stars as Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent and soon to be father. Ethan is a former track star and current slacker who has tried unsuccessfully to become a Los Angeles police officer. It’s Christmas Eve, and the TSA team is preparing for a busy day. “Stay alert, stay vigilant,” the boss lectures, “let’s get through this god-forsaken holiday.”

It’s business as usual until an ominous bad guy (Jason Bateman) threatens to kill Ethan’s pregnant girlfriend if he doesn’t allow an illicit suitcase to pass through screening and be loaded onto a plane.

The next John McClane?

What’s great about Bruce Willis’ iconic character is that he is an everyman. Not a genius, not a musclebound freak, and not a martial artist, John McClane is a guy who makes mistakes, before and during the events of the film. Hell, he’s separated from his wife at the time and it’s obvious the marital issues are his fault.

When we meet Ethan Kopek, he’s having real life discussions with girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson). He’s been rejected from the police academy again though we aren’t yet offered a reason. Finances are an issue and there’s a baby on the way. He’s late to work, as usual, drawing the ire of his boss (the great Dean Norris in a role perfect for him).

Ethan is willing to do anything to get a promotion, and as the events unfold, he acts in a believable way. He’s not a Marine Raider or a Navy SEAL, but his track star skills come in handy when running across the vast airport. The dilemma is real. Should he sacrifice the life of his partner and unborn child to comply with the terrorist demands? Egerton does a fantastic job in the role, and I would like to see the Ethan Kopek character return.

Jason Bateman is not Alan Rickman. But his sinister unnamed character is an excellent and memorable villain. He’s shown as more than willing to kill anyone who gets in the way, so his demands are met with respect. “All you have to do is nothing.” He calmly explains to Ethan.

Outside the turmoil at the airport, FBI agent Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler) is inadvertently working on the case. My boy Logan Marshall-Green lends support.

Suspension of Disbelief

I loved the comedy sprinkled throughout the film. Like “Die Hard,” moments of levity help to ease the tension. There’s a hysterical scene showing TSA agents dealing with irate and annoying passengers. One young girl presents a student ID in lieu of a passport, and it reminded me of my days carding teens buying beer (one dude showed me an out of state library card). The screeners also play Contraband Bingo which I can only hope is a real thing.

Most of the time you will be shouting at characters on screen to not do what they are doing. The death count is high. The mayhem is ridiculous. I hope actual TSA and FBI agents would act differently but hey, what do I know.

Last December, I reviewed the Netflix film “Leave the World Behind” and late in the year it became my favorite films of 2023. I suspect this will be the case again. “Carry-On” isn’t “Die Hard.” But it is an excellent thriller that can be enjoyed during the Christmas season.