.

Based on that title, anyone with a knowledge of mid to late twentieth century British comedy cinema might think this film is something very different to what it is. Rather than being a bawdy genre piece with the new versions of Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams though, this movie about an airport security worker who is manipulated by a criminal into letting something dangerous in cabin bag onto a plane, is more Die Hard meets Die Hard 2 meets Toy Story 2. (You’ll see what I mean with that last one.)

I’ve thrown the first Die Hard in there because of the whole Christmas movie thing. I know that Die Hard 2 is also set on Christmas Eve but you never hear anyone discussing if Die Hard 2 is a Christmas Movie like they do with the first one. This of course is because just having the events of your film take place at the end of December does not make it a Christmas Movie but Die Hard has become synonymous with the festive season due to the fact that three and a half decades ago there was probably nothing else for people looking for an alternative to than the standard filmic Yuletide schmaltz. Scrooged did come out in the same year as Die Hard but even that had a love conquers all corny ending. Bill Murray’s movie was of course in theatres in December, unlike Die Hard which was released in July.

For this reason Carry-On is not going to become a Christmas classic in the same way, even though it is also set on 24th December. There is some fun placing of a few of the accoutrements of the season, mostly on the soundtrack but that’s not what this film is about. That said, initially it was a little corny in its own way. At the start we are introduced to Taron Egerton’s Ethan who really wants to be a cop but is in reality a disenchanted security officer at LAX. He and his girlfriend have just found out they are expecting their first child (which is one of the two things that also make it like The Rock but I won’t tell you the other). Then he turns out the be the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time and a contest between him and a new nemesis ensues. You feel that you pretty much know where it is going from this point. 

If I’m honest narratively it doesn’t really go anywhere else but the way it is all executed is what makes it such fun. Carry-On is a great action film and I highly recommend it. I caught the series Black Doves on Netflix this week as well and both are great entries to their Christmas selection (Keira Knightly and Ben Whishaw’s show is also set at this time of the year). Like Black Doves, this finds just the right balance between drama, thrills and silliness. Once those early concerns of predictability fall away this becomes a gripping adventure. You know that Ethan is going to get the better of the other guy at some point but it isn’t always easy to see how and the way you see it play out (or indeed carry on) is very satisfying. 

That other guy is also a big draw in this movie. He is played by Jason Bateman and it is really good to see his usual wry persona given a dark spin. His and Egerton’s pairing may not be the match of Willis and Rickman but they get more time together and collectively they are a treat. Danielle Deadwyler is also excellent in a supporting role and she actually gets the most impressive action sequence. 

I’ve not seen Kraven the Hunter but word is it’s not great. If that film chips away at lead actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s chance of landing Bond, then Carry-On will only boost Egerton’s. Out of the two movies I think the wrong one has ended up on streaming. I look forward to a sequel. Let’s hope the same $#!¥ happens to the same guy twice. 

Ride like the wind, Bullseye.