Taron Egerton has delved into how Ethan’s failure in his police academy polygraph exam played a crucial role in motivating him during the final act of the Netflix action-thriller Carry-On. In the movie directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Egerton portrays a TSA officer who gets caught up in a deadly conspiracy involving the release of a nerve agent on a flight and attempts to stop the attack. The film also features Jason Bateman as the mysterious Traveler, along with Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Logan Marshall-Green, and Theo Rossi.
After Carry-On’s debut on Netflix, Egerton discussed the movie’s ending with USA Today. He explained that the Traveler’s insults regarding Ethan’s intentional failure of the polygraph ultimately reminded him of his determination not to repeat past mistakes. Ethan used this perceived weakness to his advantage and took down the antagonist when his guard was down. Egerton said, “That’s kind of the theme for Ethan of the film, really. He’s just found out he’s gonna be a dad and it’s time to wake up and be a grown up. I think it’s the arrogance of Jason’s character, thinking he’s got it all figured out. The character is totally unflappable, whereas Ethan is extremely flappable.”
Egerton also enjoyed the catharsis of Ethan finally getting the upper hand and the craftsmanship behind the final confrontation. He liked how the final shot of the movie indicated that Ethan would stay true to his dreams of becoming a better father and a police officer.
What Egerton’s response means for Carry-On’s ending is that the Traveler’s plot pushed Ethan to overcome his past mistakes. Throughout the movie, viewers were initially unsure of the Traveler’s goals, but it eventually became clear that he aimed to cause a tragedy that could be pinned on Russia to support a new defense bill in Congress, benefiting defense contractors. To achieve this, he created a complex web of accomplices and fail-safes.
Ethan was just one piece in this elaborate game, with the Traveler using his pregnant girlfriend Nora to ensure his involvement. However, Ethan and his allies managed to dismantle the carefully laid plans, leaving the Traveler vulnerable. Despite the Traveler having extensive background info on his targets, including Ethan’s father, he overplayed his hand. The challenges Ethan faced throughout the day gave him the chance to prove his skills and correct his past error of letting a criminal escape, eliminating his self-doubts.
Our take on Carry-On’s ending is that Ethan’s struggle goes beyond the on-screen action. Similar to how the Nakatomi Plaza incident in Die Hard provided John McClane with a chance to save his marriage and Al Powell an opportunity to make up for a past trauma, Ethan’s encounter with the Traveler is not just about thwarting an international incident and a devious conspiracy. It’s also a chance for him to face his past and improve himself. As Egerton described, this aspect of Ethan’s trial makes it more than just a high-stakes scenario and will resonate with audiences. Paired with its Christmas setting, Carry-On has a heartwarming core within its action-packed plot, making it an enjoyable holiday watch.
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