MARCUS CHEONG says Tom Cruise’s latest ‘Mission: Impossible’ venture is more of the same…
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (AU-M/UK-12A/US-PG-13)
In a word: More
Tom Cruise regained his iconic action status with last year’s Top Gun: Maverick. Now he’s back to prove that there are more stunts left in him with yet another Mission: Impossible.
The seventh in the series, Dead Reckoning Part One is the first of a two part story that has been shot back to back with the conclusion due in 2024. True to the formula, there are exotic locations, death defying stunts, sneaky spy work and obligatory twists to ensure that nothing ever goes to plan.
Esai Morales plays Gabriel and Tom Cruise Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. PICTURE: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
In a big change to the series this time around, however, Ethan’s nemesis is a sentient artificial intelligence known as The Entity, who is apparently all knowing far more powerful than any human foe ever faced. There are hints of Terminator’s Skynet and Minority Report’s precognition scattered throughout this story which blends a touch of science fiction into this spy action genre.
The story boils down to a hunt for two keys that will unlock The Entity. Like all the Missions before it, the plot is just a thinly veiled excuse to travel around the globe, chasing, fighting and jumping off tall objects. The likable team from previous installments return which include the comic relief Benji (Simon Pegg), the faithful voice of reason Luther (Ving Rhames) and the sultry assassin Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson). They are joined by newcomer to the franchise, Grace (Hayley Atwell), an expert thief whose ambiguous agenda and charm will keep everyone on their toes.
The Mission: Impossible brand is built on live action stunts performed as much as possible by the actual stars. Once again, they deliver more outrageous combinations with bikes, cars, parachutes and trains. However, having reached the seventh installment running over 27 years, it is beginning to feel all too familiar.
It is yet another car chase (though this one injects some humour), it is another fight on a train, it is another foot chase through dark city streets, it is another shootout in a dust storm, it is another girl that Ethan must save. Sometimes the experience feels less like an original movie and more like we are watching Tom Cruise play the video game of his life.
But perhaps originality is too much to expect from the seventh installment of any action franchise. Maybe the best we can hope for is some nostalgia, some camaraderie and some super star powered stunts. If that is what will satisfy audiences, then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning proves there’s still life left in this star vehicle.
