Opening with a decidedly unfestive stop at a shady Christmas tree lot, Dreamworks' action-thriller is set on Christmas Eve at LAX, as a low-level airport security guard (Taron Egerton) is blackmailed by the bad guys to waive checks on single bag (containing a deadly nerve agent) in exchange for the life of his pregnant girlfriend. The premise is hardly original, with Die Hard and Nick Of Time being clear touchstones, but here the characters and drama are given much more time and thought to develop before the more action-orientated second half kicks in, which makes for a surprisingly talky film but is an effective strategy. The airport setting is used and shot to very good effect, the script is quite well written (in spite of a frequent reliance on Idiot Plot that can be forgiven and is overtaken by the dramatic momentum), and the whole enterprise is delivered by a strong performance from the reliable Taron Egerton, who delivers on both the vulnerable charm everyman front and the physical action elements, countered nicely by Jason Bateman as the controlled villainous go-between. The stakes are raised effectively as the film progresses, making Carry-On an entertaining, efficient and suitably silly action-thriller with a pleasing side-order of actual drama.
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