Yes! Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is back in action for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE. And I mean ACTION! A non-stop, high-octane, thrill ride, the 7th installment (yeah, I said 7) is a ton of fun!
I got to the screening late. When I say late, I mean I got there right on time. Unfortunately, this meant I couldn’t grab popcorn. I really had my heart set on popcorn. But I thought, I’m gonna jump up and run to grab a popcorn lickety-split when the movie slows down. Guess what? The Movie Never Slows Down! Okay maybe that’s hyperbole, since there is a lot of explaining and “mission” talk, but it’s all necessary and all exciting. Also, I would never get up and leave during a movie.
Coming in at two hours and forty three minutes, DEAD RECKONING PART ONE is easily the longest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE in the franchise. But it also moves super fast. I’m not sure where this lands in the franchise, but its greatness is on par with the rest and I’m guessing whichever favorite film one might hold dear to the heart. Obviously M:I2 is the weakest link, but I remember even liking that one to some extent when it came out in 2000. A product of the time. But I digress.
Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames), are up against a constantly evolving AI called the Entity. They must find the interlocking keys and unlock this hidden supercomputer weapon to destroy it before it ends up in the wrong hands. But much like our current world, the algorithms seem to know our teams every move before it even happens. In the most relevant and applicable plot yet, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE seems to perfectly construct the enticing action mysteries that the franchise structures so well. It sounds complicated at first, but is actually quite easily accessible and follows the necessary formula to bring all audiences on board for one intense ride.
Writer and director Christopher McQuarrie returns at the helm of this MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE and seems to only do projects with Tom Cruise anymore. The two are incredible collaborating partners, understanding action and audience satisfaction. The stunt choreography is insane with Cruise once again, attempting death defying stunts as Ethan Hunt. This year has already provided some insanely impressive stunt work and action sequences through JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, and now DEAD RECKONING PART ONE. Seriously Oscars, get a category for this stuff already!
The supporting crew is fantastic as always with Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, and Esai Morales joining in on the fun. Rebecca Ferguson returns, as well as Henry Czerny as the original Kittridge from the first MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. It’s hard to believe Cruise is still crushing these mind-blowing action sequences better than anyone. But his real gift is probably understanding the comedic moments within the action, which probably goes far too unnoticed. Between Reeves, Ford, and Cruise, action heroes seem to be aging like fine wine. And I cannot wait for DEAD RECKONING PART 2 where I’m sure the Mission will be even more Impossible. Impossibler even. Impossiblest? As long as Cruise doesn’t die while performing any crazy stunts, I’m sure it will be another intensely good time.
