Mission: Impossible may be a 27-year-old film franchise at this point (knocking on the 30 years between the start of the 1966 series and the release of Brian De Palma’s 1996 effort), but it’s also one that has continuously shown growth and confidence. Since the start of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible star vehicles we have seen the spy and action genres undergo a lot of changes. Bourne made a case for the more grounded affair, which quickly infiltrated the new era of Bond with Daniel Craig. John Wick would then up the action but also hone focus on the craft of the scenes themselves. But none of these franchises had Tom Cruise in the lead. A man with the pull, and apparent recklessness, that elevates Mission: Impossible to an almost mythic quality.
7 films in and you would be forgiven for not keeping up with all the characters and plot twists over the series, but it’s doubtful you have forgotten the stunts. Usually, the talking point behind any MI release is what insane thing Cruise has dreamed up this time, and with this installment, there are plenty of moments from the trailer to pick. Not only that, but it promises more than previous outings, with a runtime of 164 minutes, and that ‘Part One’ tacked onto the title to let you know this will only be the first half of a truly epic mission.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One goes all in from the outset, which is something it needs to do due to how much Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie want to cram in. We get an entire four scenes before the opening titles even roll. Despite how complex the plot becomes with how many different factions get involved, it can be boiled down to AI going rogue, two keys are needed to either control or destroy it, and everybody wants said keys. Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, who gathers his old team of Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) with the view of destroying it. Elsewhere is Gabriel (Esai Morales), a man with a mysterious past that is linked to Hunt’s, who is in league with the AI. Hayley Atwell is Grace, a thief trying to obtain the keys, and Vanessa Kirby once again takes on the part of The White Widow, who wants to broker a deal for the keys. Oh, and we get a couple of scene-stealing federal agents in Shea Whigham’s Briggs and Greg Tarzan Davis’ Degas.
A lot to process, but thankfully the Mission: Impossible franchise has become one that is more preoccupied with perfecting its form, rather than changing things too much. The classic self-destructing messages and flashbacks give us enough exposition to either refresh our memories or give Cliffs Notes to newcomers. From there it’s what you would expect. Get this item, this item is in a place where it’s hard to get, here’s how we plan to get the item, the plan unfolds with unforeseen events and we must improvise to get the item. As stated before, the absolute joy of watching this all unfold is in the execution.
No doubt Cruise is a machine, and these films are aided by their behind-the-scenes featurettes. And these setpieces are often used to promote the film. But being in that cinema, with that sound, and the intense build-ups, reminds us that like with Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise is giving us a reason to go to the cinema. The practical effects, the stunts, the sound design, it all just merges into a seamless thrill ride that justifies its runtime. No need to go into detail on these stunts here, but you’ll find moments where you are completely lost in the big screen, asking yourself “How did they do that?” and also, perhaps more importantly “Why did they do that?”. You almost want to spot even the slightest bit of CGI touchup, or a wire, just to convince yourself that Tom Cruise isn’t that daring.
This isn’t to say that the film lacks in other areas either. There’s a conscious effort here to link emotionally to Hunt and his team. We get glimpses into Hunt’s past, as well as discussions on why people would become these IMF agents. The script also does humour very well. Whether it’s someone high up in the government finally questioning the idea and name of Impossible Mission Force, or the banter and friendship between Hunt, Luther, and Benji. It allows for sweet relief from the unbearable tension at times, but is also never mawkish or a complete mood ruiner.
The film is not perfect however, with the female characters, of which there are gladly a lot, mostly used to spur on Cruise’s Hunt. They do get their own moments to shine, and are all performed wonderfully, but you might find yourself questioning why they are used in this way, as opposed to Hunt’s longer-serving male teammates. Pom Klementieff, who was so funny and charismatic as Mantis in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, is pretty much a silent henchwoman here, and it would have been great if she had more to do in her role as Paris. It’s also hard to fully appreciate this film until we’ve seen Part 2.
As it stands though, this is an astonishing action film that will battle it out with John Wick Chapter 4 for ‘Best of the Year’. It’s a slick and magnificent film that gives you exactly what you paid to see. Double crosses, car chases, shootouts, massive jumps, and Tom Cruise running. This is the kind of film cinemas need right now, a film where considering waiting for streaming isn’t really an option.
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part 1
Summary
An astonishing action film that will battle it out with John Wick Chapter 4 for ‘Best of the Year’.
