2015. Rated PG-13, 131 minutes.
Cast:
Tom Cruise
Jeremy Renner
Simon Pegg
Rebecca Ferguson
Ving Rhames
Sean Harris
Alec Baldwin
Jens Hultén
Simon McBurney
Zhang Jingchu
Tom Hollander
Hermione Corfield
As is customary for the series, we open up with Ethan Hunt (Cruise) already on an impossible mission. This, of course, culminates in a spectacular action scene where things don't quite work out as planned. See the pic above. I'll spare the rest of the details. Just know that the powers that be are none too pleased with these events and shut down IMF. Sorta. Since the bad guys are still out there, Hunt takes it upon himself to try to bring them down. This makes him a fugitive and puts him in the middle of some serious international and top secret goings on. Lots of double and triple crossing, back-stabbing, and front-stabbing ensues. Never you worry, lots of stuff goes boom.
Rogue Nation is proof that the franchise's previous entry, Ghost Protocol was no fluke. Like that one, RN strikes a near perfect balance between intriguing espionage and dumb action. Neither one is ever very far away. The comedic stylings of Simon Pegg as Benji also figures nicely into the mix, once again. With Tom Cruise in full-blown alpha-male mode, and Ving Rhames, as Luther, having his back as only Ving Rhames can, the pieces are all in place for another solid entry.
Notice I only said solid. It's been proven that these pieces work, so that's no surprise. What elevates this installment above solid, and above all but one prior entry, is the inclusion of a new piece in the form of Rebecca Ferguson. She plays Ilsa Faust, Hunt's rival/ally/love interest, or something. It's a role that has shown up in tons of action films, but Ferguson makes it her own. She is at once seductive and foreboding. Physically, she handles her own with excellent work during the action scenes. In all of these ways, she's reminiscent of Emily Blunt's stellar work in another Tom Cruise vehicle, Edge of Tomorrow. Though Ferguson's character occasionally gets lost in all the twists and turns of the plot, she is still a great aid to the film she's in.
Speaking of the plot, that is where RN struggles most. It has a fine premise and doesn't necessarily do anything wrong. It just isn't saying nearly as much as it thinks it is. Not all that long ago, the James Bond flick Skyfall covered much of the same terrain. That film did it with a nostalgic eye reluctantly contemplating the future through some rather poignant introspection. This film hints that it might travel the same path, but never does more than that. It's unwillingness to examine itself, also a franchise born of long-gone era, renders this superficial, and thus, on a little on the forgettable side. Luckily, we have a grand time while it's on. It's loads of fun while giving us enough of the cerebral stuff to keep us mentally engaged. Other than some of the stunts, it just fails to linger with us in a way that would make it a truly great film. Please don't misunderstand me. I really do like RN. With two consecutive, legitimately good entries, Mission: Impossible has transformed itself from a series I wish would die into one I'm looking forward to seeing more from.
You May Also Like:
I don't know if I want to see this. It's likely to be seen on Epix but that's a channel that I don't have as it only comes for free every few months. If I have the urge to see it, I'll do it. After all, I've seen worse films.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's worth a look. One of the better movies in the series.
DeleteI liked this installment. I didn't know how they were going to top off the previous movie but it did. I'm looking forward for the next movie.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it topped Ghost Protocol, but it's easily my number two in the franchise.
DeleteI'd be perfectly happy if Cruise only ever made MI films from here on out. This is a top notch thriller that delivers, delivers, delivers.
ReplyDeleteThe M:I movies certainly are his bread and butter. However, I will say that Edge of Tomorrow was criminally overlooked at the box office.
DeleteAhh Edge Of Tomorrow. What a great, vastly underseen and terribly overlooked film by the general public. I still hear rumours there's a sequel coming.... is that right?
DeleteI haven't heard anything, but I hope so.
DeleteI think this movie gets too caught up in the fact that it's a sequel and - as a sequel - feels the need to step things up with giant set pieces. The set pieces are brilliant but the story in between was a bit dull. I went to see this with a friend and we both agreed that the moments in between these beautiful action sequences were equivalent to sleeping pills.
ReplyDeleteFair enough. I liked the story a bit better than that, but admittedly, it wasn't great. The action sequences were amazing.
DeleteGreat review Dell. I think it felt more balanced than any other Mission Impossible movie yet which is why I really, really liked it. I thought it even topped Ghost Protocol
ReplyDeleteA number of people put this at the very top of their M:I ratings. I slot it #2. Not going to argue it, either way.
DeleteI was worried it was going to be just another entry, but like you said, there's a good balance between spy movies thrills and action, Pegg is on point, and I found it very engaging. My favourite in the franchise. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI had a fun time watching it, and Pegg is hilarious.
Delete