'Carry-On' offers little as one of Netflix's many action films

Netflix action films are a dime a dozen. Very few of them stand out in any way. But somehow that doesn't stop me from watching them. They are usually easy watches and, if you already have Netflix, they are free to watch anyway. "Carry-On" is the latest of these generally forgettable films.Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is a pretty boring guy. Even though it's Christmas Eve and he and his girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) just found out they are going to have a baby, Ethan is not excited, or even happy. He seems depressed, which is a big concern for Nora.Ethan and Nora have jobs that require them to work on Christmas Eve, both at Los Angeles International Airport. Ethan is a TSA officer, very low on the totem pole, and Nora oversees all operations for Northwind Airlines at LAX. On their way to work Nora encourages Ethan to follow his passion, to apply to the police academy again.As Ethan's co-workers leave to take their stations in the airport he takes a chance. He asks his supervisor to give him more responsibilities, to give him a chance to succeed and move up in the department. His friend Jason (Sinqua Walls) offers Ethan his spot on the x-ray machine. This switch on the X-ray line changes Ethan's life.While at the X-ray machine Ethan is contacted by a man known only as the Traveler (Jason Bateman). He wants Ethan to clear a bag through the machine without doing anything, a bag with an explosive device inside. All Ethan has to do is nothing. If Ethan does not follow his instructions to the letter, the Traveler will kill Nora, and their unborn baby.Ethan doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to be responsible for an explosion on a plane, but he must protect Nora and their baby. Ethan spends the rest of the film trying to find a way to thwart the Traveler, who seems to be two steps ahead of Ethan at every turn."Carry-On" is not bad, but it's far from great. When you watch the movie turn your brain off and enjoy some decent entertainment for a couple of hours. Don't think too hard, or at all, or you will realize how improbable many of the scenes truly are, despite the best efforts of the writers. It's a mindless action movie, treat it as such and you will enjoy it more.Almost immediately after the movie started, I was reminded of another Christmas action movie. "Die Hard." More specifically, "Die Hard 2." Both movies take place in an airport at Christmas time with terrorists attempting to execute a diabolical plot to kill hundreds of people. Only one man who can stand in their way and prevent a tragedy. Make no mistake about it though: "Carry-On" is no "Die Hard," and Taron Egerton is no Bruce Willis.Egerton has done well in some roles in the past. He is great in the TV show "Black Bird" and good in "Kingsman: The Secret Service." Playing Ethan Kopek is not his finest moment. Maybe it's just the character, but Egerton is so bland and lukewarm that it's hard to watch the movie in the beginning. Jason Bateman is a great actor, but I'm not sure about him as the heartless villain. It just doesn't ring true. He is not menacing, not at all.The entire movie is very blah for the first 30 minutes. When the action picks up, so does the tension. The best part of the film is the tension, the feeling that even though you know the good guys will win in the end, it's still nerve-wracking to watch Ethan try to save everyone. The escalating tension is done very well, and it leads to greater and greater stakes that, after the boring beginning, will keep your eyes glued to the screen. This part of the film is engrossing.There's not much else to say about "Carry-On." It's an entertaining couple of hours in an I-don't-have-to-think-just-enjoy kind of way. It's a middling film that will catch your attention, if you can hang on through the drab beginning.Grade: BRated PG-13 for strong violence, bloody images, some language, and suggestive references.•••Bradley Griffith is a local attorney and a longtime film buff.