by Jeffery Rahming, Contributing Writer
The Mission: Impossible series is the underdog mega-franchise of Hollywood. Yes, everybody knows about it, but it doesn’t have the same powerful name-brand recognition as Marvel, James Bond, Harry Potter, or Star Wars. If you asked a random person the main character’s name, they’d probably say Tom Cruise rather than Ethan Hunt. But even though it’s never been a top-tier franchise, Cruise’s insane stunts and the killer supporting cast always make for a fun time. Dead Reckoning may be the most Mission: Impossible movie of all of them. The stunts are more insane, the action is more visceral, and the spy drama has even more twists and turns than ever before. You can tell the creative team was given a blank check to create as epic a story as possible. Sometimes this works to its benefit, and sometimes to its detriment.
In a change of pace for the series Dead Reckoning sets Hunt against an enemy he can’t capture, chase, or fight. A rogue A.I., only known as The Entity, has been infiltrating the intelligence databases of every nation. It also has the power to manipulate any digital data at will around the world. In a move that surprises no one, instead of focusing on defending themselves, the governments of the world race to find a way to control the entity so they can manipulate it to their ends. Recognizing the danger of any nation having control of such a powerful weapon, Hunt sets off on a quest to destroy it. In doing so, he once again becomes a fugitive. One starts to wonder why he even works for the IMF if he ends up fighting against them almost every time.
This movienails what everybody shows up to the theater for. The stunts are crazy, as always, with Tom Cruise and Director Christopher McQuarrie setting off a symphony of chaos in every set piece. My personal favorite was a car chase sequence that put all the recent Fast and Furious films to shame. Though every Mission: Impossible has some suspensions of disbelief, this might break the record for the most times per movie. Many moments make you do a double take with how preposterous they are, but that’s part of the fun.
Mission: Impossible’s greatest strength, besides Cruise’s death-defying feats, is the quality of its supporting cast. The main team we’ve had for the last two installments returns. Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames are all great, as usual. Vanessa Kirby is back as international arms dealer Alanna, and effortlessly gives the best performance in the film. We also have newcomers Esai Morales playing Gabriel, a mysterious man from Ethan’s past who now works for The Entity, and Hayley Atwell as Grace, a professional thief who accidentally gets wrapped up in this global conspiracy. And that’s only scratching the surface of all the players involved in this quest.
It’s impossible to have a dull moment with a cast like this. That being said, there’s no denying that this script is incredibly bloated. Of all the M:I entries, this plot feels the most convoluted (and that’s saying something). The story is pretty simple, but there are so many characters and different allegiances that this film is as dizzying as it is entertaining. Every scene feels a couple minutes longer than needed, and the length starts to weigh on you as it gets closer to the three-hour mark. This is more noticeable in scenes with a lot of dialogue. Eventually, the fun spy banter wears thin, and you want everyone to stop spewing complicated technical jargon at 200 miles per hour and just wrap it up.
At the end of the day, Dead Reckoning gives you exactly what you signed up for: a fun popcorn flick where a 60-year-old man throws himself into the face of danger just to entertain you. It’s a bit excessive in scope, but it’s still far better crafted than the average blockbuster. Plus, unlike many Part Ones, this feels like its own complete story, not just setup for its inevitable sequel. Even though you’re exhausted by the end, you’re guaranteed a good time and can’t wait for the next adventure.
Rating: Liked it
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is currently playing in theaters
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