The eighth and final movie of the “Mission: Impossible” film series. Our JP gives his take on Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Paramount Pictures
- Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
- Written by Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen
- Based on Mission: Impossible by Bruce Geller
- Produced by Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie
- Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames. Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett
JP.s Take:
This is the last hoorah for the great American (yet disavowed) hero and his crack team of agents. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” the film franchise’s eighth film, finds them at a crossroads, with the world’s fate resting in their capable hands once again.
Although Ethan Hunt is at the heart of this mission, his crew takes the spotlight in pulling this impossible mission together. Considered the American equivalent of James Bond, Hunt (Tom Cruise) has had quite the journey into the world of espionage. However, he’s never been one to play by the rules, making him a rouge agent, while the US government has sought to bring down. This scenario hasn’t changed in this iteration, where it picks up after the events of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.”
“MI8” allows viewers to recall and celebrate the previous “MI” films, which reach back to “MI1” and “MI3” to bring this outing full circle. There are intertwining stories here, so you’d be somewhat forced to put your thinking caps on to weave them back together. Not to worry, because the plot isn’t so complex that you feel browbeaten into feeling like you’ve sat through a calculus test.
Instead, you’re taken on this voyage that feels just as formidable, but much more personal than the forerunners. Yet, keeping the mood lighthearted amidst the dreary mid-story, there are comical moments between the crew that warm your soul. Because of Hunt’s plight with the US government and being caught between a criminal mastermind Gabriel (Esai Morales) and a highly advanced A.I. system, Ethan’s past and present actions converge.
This is where the plot starts to take on the “Terminator Effect,” as the God-like “The Entity” dictates to Hunt that he must decide on the outcome of humanity …or it will. They’re dealing with a super-intelligent artificial being here. So the question becomes, how will we beat this machine? This is where some key players from the first and third “Mission: Impossible” installments make their way into the process.
Fans have known that the “MI” franchise is not without its outlandish stunts and high-tech gadgetry. Yet, much of the action is toned down here, with the exception of the “hang on for dear life” plane scene and the panic-inducing deep-water submarine escape. Other than that you’re not bombarded with scene-stealing clashes, car chases, or tech toys that make Q (a character from the Bond series) jealous. It’s more focused on the end game and the sentimentality of the trip. Happily, I didn’t have any problems with. I welcomed the heartwarming moments and the interconnected comedy. However, they could have trimmed the fat from the storyline altogether, as this expedition ran nearly three hours. It did bog down mid-way through because of it.
As I had tagged along for the ride with the first seven films, I didn’t want to miss this nicely arranged swan song. Although “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” may not impress even diehard fans quite as much as before, I feel the message embedded in its story was close to Tom Cruise’s heart, despite how preposterous and impossible the mission may have been. I enjoyed the ride.
Official Site: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
