Warning: Major spoilers for Carry-On below!Netflix’s intense new thrillerCarry-Onremakes one of the bestDie Hardsequels - but improves on the premise in some key ways. TheDie Hardmovies were so successful they spawned an entire subgenre, be it “Die Hard on a Boat” (Under Siege) or “Die Hard in the White House” (Olympus Has Fallen).Carry-Ondoes nothing to hide its connections to the Bruce Willis classic, as TSA agent Ethan has to stop Jason Bateman’s mercenary on Christmas Eve in an airport.
Carry-OncastsTaron Egerton as Ethan, who is the type of everyman hero that Willis plays inDie Hard. Most of the genre tropes are correct and present too, including an intellectual villain and the hero having to use his smarts to save the day. Despite all the comparisons to the original,Carry-Onfeels more like a remake ofDie Hard 2: Die Harderinstead. Both films take place in a crowded airport during Christmas time, but Netflix’s thriller really milks the premise for all it’s worth.
If You Love Die Hard, Check Out Taron Egerton’s New Christmas Action Movie Now Streaming On Netflix
For those who adamantly believe Die Hard is a Christmas movie, Netflix has a new film that falls into the same category as the 1988 action movie.
Carry-On Makes Better Use Of Its Airport Setting Than Die Hard 2
Carry-On earns its “Die Hard in an Airport” badge
The originalDie Hardwas never intended to spawn a sequel, but it was way too successful for the studio not to press ahead with one. The follow-up takes place at Dulles International Airport, where terrorists are holding planes to ransom during a snowstorm. It’s a unique setting, but after initially conveying the sense of chaos that comes with people traveling during the holidays,the airport setting fades into the background as McClane runs around underground tunnelsor other locales instead.
Carry-Onfeels custom-built around its setting, with Ethan’s TSA role being central to the plot. Audiences get a behind-the-scenes look into how an airport manages the holiday rush, and the processes behind screening passengers. Director Jaume Collet-Serra (Non-Stop) also does an excellent job establishing the geography of the airport and using locales like the baggage sorting area to stage a major fight sequence. As opposed to the more overblown setpieces ofDie Hard 2, the action staysjustthe right side of grounded.
While he felt like more of a regular guy caught in extraordinary circumstances inDie Hard, the sequel made Willis' McClane more of a supercop. This includes being more willing to jump headfirst into gunfights or jump onto the wing of a moving plane.Carry-On’sEthan is the opposite and often has to push through his own fear to solve problems.Ethan is one of the more relatable protagonists the “Die Hard on a Blank” genre has seen in some time, and the movie is all the better for it.
InCarry-On, Jason Bateman’s villain sneaks a plastic gun past airport security; this is seemingly a reference to the controversial “porcelain gun” used by the terrorists inDie Hard 2.
Die Hard 2 Suffered From A Common 1990s Sequel Problem
Die Harder really cranked up the explosions
Die Hard 2is a great action movie, filled with memorable dialogue and setpieces. Of course, it still pales in comparison to the first entry, withBruce Willis himself dislikingDie Hard 2for that reason.Die Harderfell into a common sequel issue from this era in that it simply remade the original- only adding a bigger bodycount and explosions. It’s already stretching credulity that McClane would find himself caught up inanotherterrorist siege at Christmas - let alone one that also involved his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) or reporter Richard Thornburg (William Atherton).
Die Harderis still a fun ride and Willis is fantastic as McClane, but it often feels so close to the original it may as well be calledDie Hard 1.5.
This was simply how studios used to approach sequels, believing all audiences wanted was more of the same. It does mix up the formula somewhat; the villain, Colonel Stuart (William Sadler), is a genuine physical threat to McClane, while the terrorists actually make good on their promise to crash a plane to prove how far they’ll go. The sequel is still a fun ride and Willis is fantastic as McClane, but it often feels so close to the original that it may as well be calledDie Hard 1.5.
Carry-On Would Have Made For A Great Die Hard Prequel
A prequel/sequel called McClane was once planned as the sixth Die Hard
Carry-Onobviously has no ties to theDie Hardfranchise, but it feels like some kind of prequel regardless. Ethan is a quippy underachiever expecting a child with his girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) before suddenly being thrust into a dangerous situation. It’s only thanks to his unexpected smarts and ingenuity that he’s able to save both Nora and the passengers of an airplane.For his good deeds, Ethan finally achieves his dream of becoming a copinCarry-On’sending.
94%
69%
60%
Live Free or Die Hard(2007)
82%
A Good Day to Die Hard(2013)
15%
A rewrite could have made the movie a prequel about McClane’s first brush with aDie Hardscenario. There actually were plans for a sixthDie HarddubbedMcClane, that would have followed a case from the titular detective’s past, with Willis reprising the role in modern-day while a younger actor would have played John in the past. After years of development,the prequel/sequel was canceled in 2019. For those needing aDie Hardfix though,Carry-Onis one of the best of the subgenre to come along in some time.
Carry-On
Cast
Carry On is a film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, focusing on a young TSA agent who is coerced by a mysterious traveler into allowing a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. As events unfold, he must use his wits to resolve the perilous situation.
Die Hard
Die Hard follows NYPD officer John McClane as he attempts to rescue hostages, including his estranged wife, from terrorists who have overtaken a Los Angeles skyscraper. Released in 1988, this action film is noted for its central character’s resourcefulness and determination in overcoming overwhelming odds with limited assistance.
