Carry-On Review: A Thrilling Holiday Ride or Misguided Nostalgia?
Netflix’s Carry-On , starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, has stirred quite the conversation since its release. For UK viewers, the title might invoke a cheeky association with Britain’s beloved Carry On comedy franchise. However, this isn’t a risqué reboot of Kenneth Connor’s classic antics, but rather a tense, high-stakes thriller that leans more towards Die Hard than slapstick comedy.
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Egerton takes the lead as Ethan, a TSA officer caught in a web of danger when coerced by a mysterious traveler, played by Jason Bateman, into allowing a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. Egerton delivers a gripping performance, his character’s mounting stress and moral dilemmas holding the audience captive throughout the film. Bateman, meanwhile, is chilling as the calculating villain, stealing scenes with his sinister charm.
While the movie’s plot is built on classic thriller tropes—echoing films like Phone Booth and Die Hard 2 —it keeps you hooked with its taut pacing and moments of unexpected emotional depth. Sofia Carson, as Ethan’s pregnant girlfriend Nora, adds a layer of personal stakes. Her character nudges Ethan to follow his dreams, a subplot that may feel secondary but enriches the protagonist’s arc.
UK audiences, however, might find themselves distracted by the title’s unintended homage to the Carry On series. The resemblance doesn’t extend beyond the name, though. There’s no bawdy humor or saucy one-liners, but some have humorously speculated about what could have been if the film embraced its coincidental connection. With Egerton’s melancholic expressions evoking Kenneth Connor and Bateman’s stiff-upper-lip villainy reminiscent of Kenneth Williams, it’s easy to imagine a tongue-in-cheek reimagining.
Ultimately, Carry-On is a sleek holiday thriller that doesn't attempt to redefine the genre but delivers on tension and entertainment. It may not be the laugh-out-loud escapade some UK viewers hoped for, but for fans of Egerton and Bateman, it’s a satisfying ride. Whether you’re drawn in by its thrilling premise or intrigued by the unintended title irony, this film is a fine addition to Netflix’s holiday lineup.
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