ENGAGING PLOT OVERVIEW: In a world teetering on the edge of nuclear annihilation due to the sinister machinations of a malevolent AI known as “The Entity,” Ethan Hunt, portrayed by Tom Cruise, and his dedicated team embark on a desperate, all-out mission to avert global disaster and save humanity from impending doom.
IN-DEPTH MOVIE REVIEW: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning endeavors to encapsulate the essence of the franchise, weaving together critical plot threads from all prior installments to deliver an explosive conclusion that aims to bid farewell to Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in a spectacular fashion. Seamlessly picking up from where Dead Reckoning left off, it intricately connects essential narrative elements from earlier films, particularly the first and third installments. This connection serves to highlight how Ethan Hunt’s repeated attempts to safeguard the world may have inadvertently contributed to its current perilous state.
The film takes a bold narrative shift, venturing into almost mythical territory. Rather than portraying Hunt solely as an elite spy, he emerges as a hero whose destiny is eternally entwined with the mission of saving the world from its own flaws. This portrayal imbues him with a messianic quality, as he demands unwavering trust and confidence from everyone he encounters. He uniquely possesses the capacity to rescue the planet from the brink of destruction. While the film pushes the boundaries of its genre further into science fiction than previous entries, it remains undeniably entertaining, albeit with some reservations.
A major concern for me is that despite rebranding the film from Dead Reckoning Part 2—a change so significant that it even retroactively alters the title of the preceding film—this installment still functions as the second half of a broader narrative arc. Given the previous film’s lackluster performance at the box office, the filmmakers seem apprehensive about audience familiarity, leading to a heavy reliance on clunky exposition during the film’s initial thirty minutes. This reliance on flashbacks often detracted from the pacing, making me wonder when the film would shift gears into more action-oriented sequences. Unfortunately, it takes longer than anticipated, and with a runtime exceeding 160 minutes, the film feels weighed down by an overload of explanations regarding the interconnectedness of its various components. The Final Reckoning is decidedly not a stand-alone feature.
The film is also marred by an excess of melodrama, with the musical score crafted by Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey saturating the narrative with sentimentality. Lengthy shots of team members exchanging silent glances, accompanied by overly dramatic music, draw attention to the limitations and questionable impulses that director Christopher McQuarrie and producer/star Tom Cruise exhibit when crafting these films. Their ambition to elevate the series often results in an oddly self-important tone, diverting from the thrilling escapades that audiences expect.
Nevertheless, The Final Reckoning showcases some genuinely exceptional moments that render it a must-watch for action movie enthusiasts. If the film’s melodrama is one of its weaker aspects, the filmmakers’ commitment to authenticity stands as one of their greatest strengths. Despite the plot’s sci-fi nuances, audiences can anticipate limited use of CGI, favoring instead real-world locations and top-notch production design. The cinematography is visually stunning, with much of the action unfolding aboard submarines and beneath the ocean’s surface as Hunt endeavors to retrieve crucial technology from the sunken Russian submarine, the Sevastopol. The underwater sequences are impressive, emphasizing both Hunt’s physical endurance during his mission and Cruise’s notably enhanced physique.
The climax features some of the most astounding stunt work I’ve ever witnessed, as Cruise engages the film’s returning antagonist, Gabriel (played by Esai Morales), while maneuvering between planes in treacherous 140mph winds. The knowledge that Cruise performs these feats himself imbues this action sequence with a sense of authenticity, making it one of the most unforgettable moments in recent cinematic history and a standout within a franchise renowned for its exhilarating set pieces.
The ensemble cast is also notably well-utilized, with Simon Pegg’s character, Benji, transitioning from comic relief to a position of leadership. Meanwhile, Pom Klementieff’s character, Paris, who once served as an antagonist, has now switched sides to become the latest recruit, joining Greg Tarzan Davis‘s character, Degas. Hayley Atwell’s character, Grace, who joined the crew in the previous film, returns to the fold, although the absence of Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Isla Faust, after her demise in the last installment, is keenly felt. Ving Rhames’s character, Luther, enjoys a more substantial role than usual, while numerous other characters from prior films also make appearances.
It’s undeniable that Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning occasionally feels overstuffed with content. A significant portion of the film’s runtime is dedicated to McQuarrie’s homage to the classic Sidney Lumet film, Fail Safe, depicting the president (played by Angela Bassett) deliberating the option of initiating a nuclear strike. However, the film succeeds more times than it falters. While I still question the decision to split the Dead Reckoning storyline into two lengthy films, even during its uneven moments, the series remains a worthwhile watch. If this truly marks the end of the IMF, it’s clear that Cruise poured his heart and soul into this franchise, concluding it on a satisfying note. Though it may slightly fall short of its predecessors, it’s primarily due to the exceptionally high bar set by earlier films.
