Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
“I love my popcorn. Movies. Popcorn.” – Tom Cruise
The real impossible mission was trying to make this movie when Covid-19 was at an all time high, but Tom Cruise proves yet again he can do literally anything if he runs fast enough and yells loud enough.
Cruise sprints into action again as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, ready to save the world and more importantly, cinema as we know it. The action star will not rest until you’re gazing upon his jawline on the biggest screen at your local theater, and he will drive a motorcycle off a cliff to do it.
We had to wake up early for our 9AM showing. Between my excitement and the dog waking me up every few hours, I didn’t get much sleep the night before (when I got home I took a two hour nap). The theater was busier than expected for such an early showtime, Cruise proving even in his 60s that he still has mass appeal. After the trailers played, we were greeted by the talking heads of Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, thanking us for coming out to the theater. I felt so special. I reclined back in my seat and got ready to watch some quality filmmaking and impressive stunt work, both pillars of the Mission Impossible franchise.
This film, the seventh installment, delivers on both of those pillars. McQuarrie’s camera knows exactly where to go to deliver maximum tension. Once the action starts, you can’t help but slightly lean forward in your seat as you get more and more invested in the story, characters, and action.
The classic team of IMF agents from previous installments – Simon Pegg as Benji, Ving Rhames as Luther, and Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa – all return and shine in their roles. Hayley Atwell joins the cast as Grace, fitting right in. You’d almost think she’s been making movies like this for as long as Cruise has (she hasn’t, she was 14 when the franchise started in 1996).
The plot involves Cruise and his team obtaining two halves of a cross-shaped key, which when combined will unlock… something. They’re not sure. But an AI supercomputer called “the entity” wants it, and that can’t be good. With everything happening in Hollywood recently, this was quite the week to release a film about the threat of AI and those who want to use it for evil.
The stunts are impressive, but in my opinion they don’t quite match the level of the last three Mission Impossible films. The motorcycle cliff jump is cool, but it’s nothing compared to scaling the Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol or HALO jumping in Fallout. That said, any time Ethan Hunt is high up and needs to get down quick, you know you’re about to see Tom Cruise risk his life in the coolest way possible.
Like the last few Mission Impossible films, this one uses comedy to great effect. Particularly Cruise uses his chemistry with Atwell and Pegg to add humor to even the tensest of situations on screen. This wouldn’t work in every movie, but it does here.
There are two moments throughout the film that utilize silence perfectly. You’ll know them when you hear them. Less is more. It was powerful and awe-inducing. Movies are awesome. I’d give this film 8 epic stunts out of 10.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to see this in theaters. The bigger the screen, the better. This review will self-destruct in five seconds… Not really, but use your imagination.
Next week, be sure to come back as I review another new movie!
