Warning: The following article includes spoilers
On Dec. 13, 2024 a movie on pace to be one of the most viewed Netflix movies of all time was released. Within 10 days after its release it received 97 million views. This movie is Carry-On. Despite the instant popularity, there was a lot of debate about whether it was a Christmas movie or not. Although it takes place on Christmas Eve, Carry-On is mainly an action movie. This movie takes place in the New Orleans airport and this setting plays a key role in the plot. This movie included some famous actors including Jason Bateman, Taron Egerton, and Sofia Carson. The airport plays a key role in the plot because it is where all the action occurs. Since it was Christmas Eve, the airport was packed which was exactly why the attack happened that day.
At the beginning of the movie, the main character Ethan Kopek wants to prove to his boss that he can work hard and deserves a promotion. He works as transportation security administration, so his friend Jason Noble offered to let him try the job as a bag scanner to try and prove his boss his worthiness. This is right when Jason Batemen, the traveler, and his crew entered with the bag with the red ribbon. He then made Ethan put in an earpiece so he could talk to him. He made all these threats towards him if he didn’t do what he said. Ethan tried to be the hero a couple times and this even resulted in him killing Ethan’s coworker that he was close with. This really scared Ethan because he realized how dangerous these people really were. However all they wanted Ethan to do was let the bag go through security. This made Ethan very curious about what was in the bag, but the traveler would not tell him. Ethan was starting to get very nervous because he didn’t want to let through something horrible that would result in people being killed.
The suitcase finally came and Ethan did as he was told, letting it through. He finally figured out who the traveler was and he met him in the bathroom. They got into a fight and after Ethan put a gun to his face he set off the bomb which was the thing in the suitcase. He rushed to find the suitcase and found out the guy with the suitcase, named Mateo Flores, was also a guy they had forced to bring in. He rushed to defuse the bomb with the traveller’s help and only had about 30 seconds until the bomb was going to go off. This would kill everybody in the airport. He was stressing to defuse it quickly and found the button to turn it off just in time. Ethan and Mateo then bring the cart to the sorting room and Mateo tries to kill him. He does this because that is what they tell him to do. They then start fighting over the gun for a while and then Mateo tries to shoot him multiple times, but misses. It is a plastic gun so it heads up and then explodes in Mateo’s face, thus killing him. The traveller then starts tracking Ethan and threatens him to give the suitcase back or his wife Nora dies. So Ethan switches the bag out with one that doesn’t have the bomb. The Los Angeles Police Department then shut down terminal seven due to an active threat. The guy working with the traveller then starts chasing after Nora to kill her and she hides behind the cars.
Right before he can shoot her she smashes a bottle over his head then Ethan catches up to her. The coworker then is about to shoot them but he gets shot by a sniper from Mateo’s husband. The traveller then boards the flight and then realizes it is a different bag when it doesn’t fit. Ethen makes sure they don’t ground the plane because then the traveller will get suspicious and set off the bomb. Nora then goes to LAPD to tell them not to ground the plane. So Ethan runs to the plane and hops onto the plane. He goes to the checked bags and finds the bag with the red ribbon. He opens the bag and starts to turn off the bomb but this alerts the traveller. He then goes down there and shoots ethan. But Ethan keeps the canister from the suitcase and throws it into an airtight chamber along with the traveller. Therefore he is stuck in the chamber with a canister that releases a lethal nerve gas which ends up killing him from the deadly substance. The plane turns around and goes back to the airport where Ethan is taken to the hospital from his wounds. Ethan was the hero.
There was a lot of controversy towards this movie with debate over whether it was a Christmas movie or not. Set on Christmas Eve in a crowded airport, it includes subtle holiday moments but focuses more on action and suspense. It was filled with action and suspense which is why it became so popular. Because of this, it is said to be like the modern day Die Hard. The side that believes it is a Christmas movie argues that it is on Christmas Eve and has decorations up for Christmas. Also, the reason the airport was so crowded was because it was Christmas eve. There was also Christmas music being played throughout the whole film including Santa Claus is coming to town and Christmas. The other side argues that it is not a Christmas movie because it is filled with action and not a lot of mention of Christmas. Besides all of the controversy I think this was a great movie. It was filled with suspense and action and the type of movie that you can’t stop watching. It was very entertaining, but had a couple confusing parts with the plot. It was confusing about what happened to the bag with the red ribbon and what was in the suitcase that ended up on the plane. After Ethan switches out the bag that he gives to the traveller it was confusing on how there was still a bomb on the plane. Because of this I rate it a four point five out of five. I would recommend it because of the suspense and thrilling parts of the movie. The acting is great and it has amazing action. Just don’t expect it to replace Home Alone on your holiday movie list.
