Jaume Collet-Serra's Carry-On transforms the seemingly mundane world of TSA agents into a high-stakes thriller, anchored by a compelling performance from Taron Egerton. The film opens on Christmas Eve at LAX, a chaotic backdrop where Ethan Kopek (Egerton), a slacker TSA agent, is thrust into a tense, life-or-death situation when a shadowy figure (Jason Bateman) blackmails him into letting a dangerous package through security.

The film wastes no time in establishing its suspenseful tone, shifting from the lighthearted banter of a workplace comedy to the gripping intensity of a surveillance thriller reminiscent of Eagle Eye and Phone Booth. Collet-Serra's direction, paired with T.J. Fixman’s assured screenplay, crafts a tense narrative that explores the erosion of privacy in the post-9/11 security apparatus. Egerton shines as Ethan, capturing the everyman’s struggle against forces beyond his control, while Bateman’s understated villainy adds a chilling layer to the film's atmosphere.

The supporting cast, including Sofia Carson and Danielle Deadwyler, offers solid performances, though some characters, particularly Deadwyler's police officer Elena Cole, feel underdeveloped. The subplot involving the police investigation into a mysterious fire is less compelling and somewhat distracts from the central cat-and-mouse game between Ethan and the traveler.

Visually, the film benefits from Lyle Vincent's cinematography, which captures the bustling drama of LAX with memorable scenes that humanize the TSA agents amidst the chaos. Despite a few narrative missteps, Carry-On succeeds in maintaining tension and viewer engagement through its clever twists and strong lead performances.

While not without its flaws, Carry-On delivers a surprisingly gripping thriller that elevates everyday anxieties into a dramatic confrontation, leaving audiences pondering the real-life implications of surveillance and control.