Carry-On: A Die Hard clone that fails to land

Golden Globe Award winner Taron Egerton delivers a gripping performance in Netflix’s Carry-On, but the film falters due to its familiar storyline and a villain who fails to intimidate. Despite Egerton’s best efforts to play the flawed yet resourceful protagonist, this Die-Hard-inspired thriller never manages to distinguish itself.

The film has divided critics because of its familiarity and predictability. Like the many one-man-can-make-a-difference films, where a lone hero saves the day by going against the odds, it entertains with its plot but doesn't raise eyebrows.

After all, from Die Hard 2 to Nick of Time, Executive Decision to Non-stop, Air Force One to Passenger 57, and even Sudden Death, films with a headstrong husband, father, or, in the case of Carry-On, boyfriend have done well, but at a time when audiences had fewer options for action thrillers.

Since OTT platforms took over, the frequency of such films has decreased considerably, so when Netflix announced this Taron Egerton-Jason Bateman starrer, it left the audience questioning the need for another formulaic thriller in today’s streaming landscape.

Set on Christmas Eve, the film’s plot revolves around a young TSA officer, Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), who is blackmailed into letting a nerve agent onboard a flight. He is warned against contacting anyone, including his pregnant girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson), who works at the airport.

What works

Taron Egerton is an outstanding actor who has proven his worth in the Kingsman series and other projects. He fully embodies the role of an underdog, convincingly portraying a character who has mastered the art of failure.

His ability to embrace the 'loser' persona helps him channel the resourcefulness and reluctant heroism that made Bruce Willis's John McClane iconic. Egerton’s palpable tension and fear throughout the movie add depth to his performance, cementing it as the film’s defining highlight.

Giving him the lead role in this Die Hard template was a masterstroke because Egerton isn’t the stereotypical action hero. However, his character has a strong backstory that helps him save both his girlfriend and the day simultaneously.

What doesn’t work

First, the film suffers from a predictable plot presented on-screen multiple times. Steven Seagal saved a cruise ship on the water in Under Siege, Wesley Snipes saved the day in Passenger 57 while being on air, while Johnny Depp's Nick of Time was so successful that Shah Rukh Khan appeared in its Bollywood version, Baadshah.

Films like Passenger 57 or Under Siege succeeded by pairing their lone hero with a compelling adversary, something Carry-On lacks. Here, Jason Bateman plays the bad guy who keeps Egerton's Ethan in check thanks to CCTV and his minion. However, the film would have benefited if some other actor had played the main antagonist because Jason Bateman is known for playing the good guy more than the bad.

Jason Bateman struggles to shed his usual likable persona, falling short as a menacing antagonist despite attempts to channel a darker edge, à la Robin Williams in Insomnia. His portrayal of a man who would go to any length to get the job done also lacks the charisma of Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber.

Also, Sofia Carson’s character is written as a damsel in distress, undermining her potential as a strong, capable woman. Here, she is shown as a woman who needs her boyfriend to save her, which is not completely true since she is more resourceful and successful than him and even works in a better position.

Finally, despite the best efforts of the writer and director, the suspense feels undercooked. There are predictable twists and a lack of agitated, edge-of-your-seat moments. You know what will happen despite not knowing the characters or reading the situation. With Egerton as the obvious last man standing, the outcome feels inevitable.

Verdict

While the film is performing well on Netflix, this likely reflects the lack of compelling alternatives in cinemas rather than the film’s quality. Despite Egerton’s strong performance, Carry-On falls short due to its uninspired plot and miscast villain.

The landscape will change after the release of Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on December 20 because kids and their parents are anxiously waiting for these two releases and are likely to ditch any Netflix production once their favorite characters appear in a cinema near them.

Ultimately, Carry-On is a mixed bag that never entirely takes off. It looks more like an audition film for its star, who hasn't been active on the action scene since the second Kingsman. Despite a few enjoyable moments, the film feels emotionally hollow and fails to deliver the thrills promised by its trailer.

Carry-On is now available to stream on Netflix.