'Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1' Review: A Sequel With No Diminishing Returns
Ethan Hunt returns to the silver screen yet again in mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1, a sequel that not only reaches the dizzying heights of its predecessor, but raises the stakes substantially.
The fate of the world is on the line, which means Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his eclectic, dependable team are operating in the shadows again in order to prevent disaster from taking place by preventing a mysterious MacGuffin from falling into the wrong hands. The cast of the sequel has some terrific new additions, including Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Cary Elwes, and Shea Whigham.
Following an act like Mission: Impossible: Fallout is no easy task, especially considering its one of the best action films in recent memory. Fortunately, the powerhouse duo of Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie were up to the task, aiming to make this sequel just as good, if not even better. McQuarrie has truly established himself as a virtuoso action filmmaker, delivering phenomenal action set pieces that are not only visually stunning and beautifully staged, but emotionally charged as well. From a car chase in Rome to a knife fight on a moving train in the mountains, the set pieces here are breathtaking, further cementing Cruise as an action star who is simply in his own league at this point when it comes to delivering the blockbuster goods.
However, what makes this sequel so effective is how it juggles numerous characters and their respective motivations deftly, making it look effortless. McQuarrie’s script makes sure to get the exposition out of the way early and instead focuses on fleshing out the characters audiences have come to know and love in addition to the new players thrown into the mix. The dialogue crackles and the stakes have never been so high, Hunt’s selflessness becoming more of a detriment than an asset when this imposing threat reveals itself. There are plenty of fun surprises and narrative swerves all woven through the kind of action sequences that simply aren’t made enough. Cruise and McQuarrie know that making great action sequences are essential, but having the audience care about the characters involved in them is far more crucial.
The performances all around are fantastic, especially the new additions of Atwell and Morales. The former makes an unlikely team with Cruise’s hunt. her charm and magnetism on full display, while the latter oozes the ice cold, spine-tingling menace that this franchise has sorely needed. The rest of the cast, including returning players like Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, and of course Cruise easily slip back into their characters, their family dynamic feeling as warm as ever. Cruise especially excels, his dramatic chops becoming a secret weapon when the stakes of their mission become exponentially higher.
However, the best thing I can say about this sequel is that it feels like a full meal despite being part one of two. McQuarrie tells a full, complete story that can simply continue, rather than leaving audiences on a cliffhanger that would evoke fury and considerable disappointment. There’s clearly more story to tell, but this is a sequel that stands on its own two feet and doesn’t need a second part in order to be fully enjoyed. Though Hunt and his team have faced numerous threats over the course of the franchise, the stakes have never felt this weighted, making the wait for part two all the more painful.
As for issues, the only noticeable hindrance was the amount of characters in the film. This story simply didn’t need this many characters in order to function and flow naturally. As a result, the film can sometimes feel oversaturated with characters and their various motivations for wanting to get a hold of the central MacGuffin or Hunt. In particular, Whigham’s character is paired with a fellow agent as they try to track down Hunt and bring him in, but they feel unnecessary and shoehorned into the film. It’s easy to understand why they’re there, but their scenes become repetitive and underwhelming as Hunt consistently outsmarts them and evades them.
Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning: Part 1 had a daunting task in following its stellar predecessor, but Cruise and company have crafted not only one of the best films of the year, but another one of the best action films in quite some time, again. With the stunts and the stakes becoming grander in scope with each new instalment, its not a matter of if they can make a better film anymore, but what they’re going to do next to leave jaws on the floor.