Carry-On Review: A Thrilling Ride That Loses Its Edge as It Simplifies
Carry-On starts strong but stumbles with a slow first half. Taron Egerton shines in action, but the thriller loses depth as it embraces spectacle.
Carry-On starts strong but stumbles with a slow first half. Taron Egerton shines in action, but the thriller loses depth as it embraces spectacle.
“Carry-On” begins with a strong setup. Ethan Kopek, played by Taron Egerton, is a TSA officer. He is stuck in his job and life. His partner Nora, played by Sofia Carson, is more successful. She pushes him to do better. On Christmas Eve, he decides to take his job seriously. But fate has other plans.
A mysterious man, played by Jason Bateman, enters the scene. He forces Ethan to let a bag pass through security. The threat is clear: do it, or Nora dies. The stakes are high. The tension builds. The audience expects a fast-paced thriller. But the film struggles to keep the excitement alive in the first half.
The story has all the right elements for a great thriller. The setup is gripping. The mystery is intriguing. The characters are in danger. But the first half moves slowly. The film spends too much time building its premise. The characters do not feel real. Their emotions seem forced. The thriller elements do not create enough tension.
The villain is interesting but not scary enough. He is clever, but his presence does not create real fear. Ethan’s struggle is clear, but his reactions feel weak. The audience does not connect with his choices. The film could have explored his dilemma better. Should he risk lives for his loved one? Or should he follow his duty? This moral conflict is barely touched.
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Taron Egerton is a talented actor. He shines in roles that need charm and confidence. But in “Carry-On,” his role feels unclear. The film tries to present him as an ordinary man caught in danger. Yet, he does not fit the everyman character like Bruce Willis in “Die Hard.” He also lacks the resilience of Matt Damon in the “Bourne” series.
His character feels lost between these identities. Egerton’s American accent feels unnatural. There is even a joke about his British roots. But it only highlights the problem. He is better suited for roles that match his natural charisma. The film does not use his strengths well.
The film changes gears in the second half. It stops trying to be too serious. Instead, it embraces its action-packed, over-the-top nature. The plot moves faster. The tension builds. The action scenes become thrilling. The audience finally gets what they expected—a fun, fast-paced thriller.
Ethan starts to fight back. He runs, jumps, and escapes danger. The film uses his athleticism well. The influence of Tom Cruise’s action style is clear. The hero is always on the move, always trying to catch up. This shift makes the film much more engaging.
Danielle Deadwyler plays a detective investigating the villain. Her role brings freshness to the story. She is smart and strong. Her presence adds excitement. The action sequences become more creative. The suspense grows stronger. The audience finally feels invested.
Despite the thrilling second half, “Carry-On” could have been more. The film has a strong concept. It had the chance to explore deeper moral questions. What happens when duty and love collide? What choice can a person live with? The film does not dive into these themes enough.
The suitcase mystery could have been more meaningful. The film could have used it to test Ethan’s ethics. But it focuses more on action than emotion. This makes the story feel hollow.
“Carry-On” is not a bad film. It has thrilling moments. The second half is entertaining. The action scenes are enjoyable. But the film does not fully use its potential. The first half is slow. The characters feel empty. The lead actor does not fit the role perfectly.
Taron Egerton shows promise in action roles. But this film does not showcase his strengths. Jason Bateman’s villain is interesting but not terrifying. Danielle Deadwyler’s role adds value, but she arrives late.
If you enjoy action-packed thrillers, “Carry-On” has some fun moments. But it could have been much better. It gets more exciting as it gets dumber. But a smarter approach could have made it a great film.
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“Carry-On” follows Ethan Kopek, a TSA officer forced to let a dangerous bag pass through security on Christmas Eve to save his loved one.
The film has a strong setup and an exciting second half, but the slow first half and underdeveloped characters weaken the tension.
Egerton is a talented actor, but his role feels unclear, and his American accent seems unnatural. His strengths aren’t fully used.
Yes, the second half delivers thrilling action sequences with fast-paced chases and fights, making it more engaging.