Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning released in theaters this past weekend to give us a final installment in the franchise that has defined spy thriller blockbusters over 8 films in the past 29 years. Tom Cruise returns one final time as Ethan Hunt to captivate audiences with his fast-paced action sequences and daring stunt work setpieces, bigger in scale and tension than ever. Let’s take a closer look at this film to determine whether Cruise sticks the landing on this larger than life production, or if this was a mission he would have been better off not accepting.
Continuing where the previous film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, left off, the film makes a deliberate choice to recap and remind audiences on major plot points throughout the first hour, serving as set up for the rest of the story. This opening act is easily the weakest part of the film, as it starts off the story at a slower pace than what is normal for this franchise, consisting of many heavy dialogue sequences that are meant to remind/inform the audience, but come across a bit clunky and slower than necessary. Ideally, this section of the film should have been shortened in order to bring down the bloated runtime.
However, once the second act kicks in and the action begins to really take off, the film becomes much more entertaining to watch. Most of this is thanks to Cruise’s dedication to stunt sequences, which makes many scenes absolutely captivating to watch, as these are things that you never get to see other mainstream A-list actors do. The two standout sequences involve a submarine and biplane respectively, and go toe-to-toe with some of the most iconic stunt sequences that Cruise has put himself through throughout previous entries. The director, Christopher McQuarrie, understands that these sequences are the highlights of the films, and is effective in allowing these scenes to take their time and build suspense throughout. This makes these sequences never feel rushed, while giving audiences the action and stakes they want to see. These sequences are shot and staged particularly well, and they serve as a fantastic reason for someone to decide to see this film on the big screen or in IMAX.
The film’s plot tackles the biggest stakes out of any in the franchise, being a cautionary tale about a rogue AI called the “Entity”, that is able to hack into the nuclear bases of all major global powers and unleash nuclear armageddon on humanity. It goes without saying that a film in 2025 that views AI as an existential crisis for humanity that needs to be destroyed is enticing. The film paints those who want to bring about the Entity’s destruction as morally correct and those who want to work with or “control” it to be corrupt or misguided, clearly picking a side on the issue. Given that the majority of large industries, including the film industry itself, are currently looking into investing heavily in emerging AI technologies, seeing a film that is staunchly against it is bold to say the least.
Although this is far from the best Mission: Impossible installment in the series, there is still more than enough entertainment value here to recommend seeing on the big screen. Accept the mission and check it out… should you choose to accept it.
