TaronEgerton – Credits Rolling

Having coasted through life the past couple of years, Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) feels the pressure to step up after his longtime girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) becomes pregnant. On Christmas Eve, the busiest day of the year for airports, Ethan is put on the x-ray machine. When a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails him into playing along with his terrorist attack, Ethan must go along with the plan while also figuring out a way to save not only Nora, but thousands of other passengers too.

What initially attracted me to this film was the cast. Egerton has always been enjoyable and it was fun seeing him back in an action flick again. He plays the hero well and kept the film grounded. Though Bateman was only really present in the film throughout the second half, he carried an ominous presence from the moment you hear his voice through the earpiece. The way in which those two worked off each other was like watching a delicious game of cat and mouse. The supporting cast members elevated the story too. Carson had a sweet romance with Egerton’s character while Danielle Deadwyler was kick ass as LAPD officer Elena Cole.

As far as action goes, this certainly delivered. After a small introduction, it didn’t waste any time to get going. The airport setting really made it that locked room vibe which I liked and it added to the chaos as well. There was so much tension, like Ethan was running against a clock. I also never in a million years thought that I would watch a fight sequence set to Wham’s Last Christmas, but I wasn’t mad about it.

I didn’t have high hopes for Carry-On at first. It was much better than I thought it was going to be! Not only did it grip my attention from the very beginning, it had enough twists and turns throughout that kept me on the edge of my seat. It may not have been very realistic, but I didn’t care. I had a great time with it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Everybody knows Tetris. To this day, it is one of the most successful games ever and it is still loved by many. But what a lot of people don’t know is the story behind its creation.

The year is 1988 and Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) is going after Tetris. Unfortunately for him, there’s a long line of people who want the game for exactly the same reasons as he does. Deciding to travel to the Soviet Union, he hopes to join forces with creator Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses.

I was one of the many kids who grew up playing Tetris on my Gameboy. That adrenaline that would be pumping through my veins when I’d be close to beating a level – there was nothing like it. I never stopped to think of what went on behind the scenes to get this game into the hands of everyone around the world.

While at times the events in the movie were exaggerated, it did help move the story along at a nice enough pace that I never felt bored. Instead, I became invested in what was unfolding in front of me and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, even if I couldn’t stop myself from thinking all of this over a game? But then again, what do I know?

Egerton was brilliant in the role of Henk Rogers. Not only did he exude a charisma that sucked in the audience, his passion for the part helped make everything that much more authentic. I’ve always liked him as an actor and I believe he chooses projects that you would never expect. Another standout for me was Efremov who, as a native, was the perfect fit for Pajitnov. Additionally, his chemistry with Egerton was spot on and I kind of wish we’d seen more of them together.

Paired with a brilliant soundtrack filled with fun covers of popular hits to the way in which each chapter was broken up into a video game design, Tetris was a much better watch that I’d given it credit for. The delightful performances, twisty storyline and fast pace made it an enjoyable watch.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5