Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

UK Release Date: 10 July 2023

Certification: 12A
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, Henry Czerny, Cary Elwes, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames

Rating: 66%

Review:

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One released last week to nothing but positive reviews and opened to $310 million worldwide. The troubled production was well documented with filming halting several times as a result of COVID-19. An infamous rant from Tom Cruise leaked online due to the frustration. Criticised for his aggressive approach but praised for his attitude towards following the strict guidelines. 

However, despite the controversy that surrounds him, it can't be denied that Tom Cruise is the last of a dying age of cinema, the last true movie star. He's a great actor - demonstrating that early on in his career as he worked with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick and Paul Thomas Anderson - but for the past twenty-five years he has done nothing but entertain. Cruise can get audience members into the cinema based off name alone. I don't believe it's an understatement to say that Cruise is single handedly saving cinema. 

With the Mission: Impossible franchise in particular, there's an aura that surrounds Cruise that makes Ethan Hunt an almost supernatural figure. His determination for his craft is nothing but admirable. He's just a madman that will do ridiculous feats for supposed fun. The cliff jump is amazing. In hindsight it was probably marketed a little too heavily but you're still sat there glued to your seat - in complete and utter awe as it unfolds. 

Though, there comes a point where the film feels meaningless. Yes the stunts are mind boggling but does that really matter if the surrounding plot is lacklustre. A meandering storyline centred around AI taking over the world. Dull, lacking in originality and surprisingly uninventive. Really couldn't have cared less. It's been the case in all of the Mission: Impossible films that stunts come before story, and that works when the quality improves each time, but that gimmick ran out in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. 

Besides a one-dimensional villain with absolutely no charisma the new additions work well. Hayley Atwell is a scene stealer playing off Tom Cruise with incredible ease. The chemistry flows naturally, an effortless back and forth rhythm. Pom Klementieff continues her form from prior this year in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. So much emotion and personality expressed from facial expressions alone. All the established players shine in their element. Deserved praise for any interaction between Ethan and Kittridge, simply for putting a smile on my face. 

Not enough of the iconic main theme put a damper on the experience. Whilst, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is a solid action film, coming off the back of Mission: Impossible - Fallout it feels like a step down in quality and in all honesty a slight disappointment.