'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' Review: A Mostly Thrilling Final Mission
Ethan Hunt embarks to complete his most challenging mission yet in Mission: Impossible - The FInal Reckoning, the seemingly final installment in the long-running, beloved franchise that packs plenty of emotional and visceral punch for the action-hungry fans of the series.
After the events of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan (Tom Cruise) is still on the hunt for Gabriel (Esai Morales) and the ever evolving digital threat known as the entity. The conflict incites global panic as the IMF agent is humanity’s only hope to find the entity’s source code and destroy it in order to avoid global nuclear warfare, which would result in the end of humanity. Simply put, the stakes have never been higher for Ethan and his team, resulting in a final installment that feels as intense and pulse-pounding as one would hope.
From the opening frame, there is a palpable sense of intensity and urgency, immersing the viewer immediately into the conflict and this world. Director and co-writer Christopher McQuarrie doesn’t waste any time reminding audiences why this is one of the most reliable action franchises around, not to mention his prowess and precision behind the camera. Whether it’s an exposition dump involving high-ranking members of the government or Ethan hanging on for dear life on the side of a biplane in mid air, the intensity is always at a fever pitch, never letting up until the credits roll. McQuarrie’s skill behind the camera is on full display here, capturing truly breathtaking set pieces, vicious hand to hand combat, and heated verbal sparring with thoughtful and dynamic flair, making every frame of this sequel vibrate. In fact, there are two set pieces here that are two of the best the franchise has had to offer, full stop.
However, this film truly doesn’t soar without the star power and stunning dedication from Cruise who once again showcases why he is not only a singular action star, but one of the finest actors of his generation. His commitment to every stunt, every line of dialogue and every subtle facial tick is always a wonder to behold. Cruise has done a terrific job humanizing Hunt over the course of these eight films and the emotional stakes for the character have never felt so dire. Hunt is a man who has not only lost numerous friends and loved ones he’s cared deeply about over his many years of service, but has had to make decisions no human being would ever want to be faced with. The toll and weight that has had is as clear as day through Cruise’s performance here, giving the talented performer plenty to work with during his possible final outing.
The supporting performances are also very strong here, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames delivering their best work to date in the series while newcomers Hayley Atwell and Shea Whigham get much more to do this time around, their characters becoming far more compelling this go around. Their performances, coupled with plenty of callbacks and returning characters from previous installments, solidify this as a sequel that manages to blend the new and the old in a way that feels organic and far less like lazy fan service. There are a few surprises thrown into the mix that longtime fans of the series will feel quite rewarded by as well.
Also, more flowers need to be sent in the direction of editor Eddie Hamilton, who has pieced together not only the past three Mission: Impossible films, but the miraculous Top Gun: Maverick as well. His attention to detail, shot selection, and overall pacing is considerably impressive. For a film that clocks in at nearly three hours, audiences will hardly feel its runtime with how smoothly it moves and how light it is on its feet. His deft hand, coupled with a bombastic and electric score from composers Max Aruh and Alfie Godfrey, who apparently replaced franchise staple Lorne Balfe during production, help make the film truly crackle.
However, this final mission isn’t without a few hiccups. The franchise has always teetered on the border of the ludicrous or the absurd when it comes to the death defying stunts Hunt has had to endure for the sake of his missions. Unfortunately, there are moments here that require such a suspension of disbelief to buy into that make the film feel a little too over the top for its own good. Fortunately, these moments are fleeting, but they’re there nonetheless. Also, the plot mechanics and storytelling feel a little too cobbled together and disjointed, much like its predecessor. There’s a bevy of expositional dialogue and the narrative on the whole feels far more scattershot and less refined like its better counterparts. These aren’t substantial hindrances to the film’s overall punch and entertainment value, but they hold it back from reaching the dizzying heights of the series’ best installments, Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, if it is believed to be the final installment in the series, ends the franchise with the flair, emotional heft, and go for broke entertainment value that the fans deserve not only from a Mission: Impossible film, but from the action genre in general. It may be a little rough around the edges, but few films ache to be seen and heard on the big screen the way this one does. The audience’s mission, should they choose to accept it, is to see this final outing on the biggest screen possible in order to give Ethan Hunt and his team the sendoff they and this revered franchise absolutely deserve.