Alex Reviews "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning"

It is often difficult to judge films independent from those released in similar genres or at certain times. When there are films that are within the same genre and time, it is even more difficult. If there are multiple films within a genre, time, AND a singular series, it is an impossible mission… sorry, not sorry.

If Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning truly is the end of the line for Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, I need to take the opportunity to make that joke now. Not only does it set up that hilarious dad joke, but it also establishes the dichotomy that comparison creates with this outing in the Mission: Impossible series.

The last 30 years of improbable mission after improbable mission has built the web to not only ensnare Ethan’s team, but to create what could be the end of humanity as The Entity slowly takes control of the world’s nuclear arsenals while governments and shadow organizations race to find a way to control The Entity for their own gain. Can Ethan’s team defeat the utterly impossible all while slipping between those mad with visions of power? It is the final entry, so all bets are off!

Two things will always be true in any Mission: Impossible movie: amazing cast performances and Tom Cruise performing the single most ludicrous stunts imaginable. These statements were never truer than during the prior entry Dead Reckoning, which I referred to as one of the greatest action films ever made. Much like during that picture, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames bring amazing diversity in their performances by being the heart and humor of every instance they are on screen. Haley Atwell will always be perfect. Pom Klementieff is a human cartoon in all of the best ways as she is always captivating and the manifestation of “What could happen next?!?” Then there is Tom Cruise, who might have a legal middle name that is best said by Samuel L. Jackson. The best acting action star (on my list) ever and the absolute best onscreen runner in cinema history!

As for the stunts, The Final Reckoning goes bigger than I believe the series has gone before, but there is a catch. While the grand scale stunt scene is amazing and necessary to the narrative, I am unsure it plays as well on the big screen. To be impressed, it could almost take understanding what went into this particular scene to fully appreciate the scale. Counterpoint that to the massive train scene in Dead Reckoning. The train scene required nothing beyond optics because it looked just as impressive as it was from a creativity standing. However, the picture does roar back with an incredible scene that has rightfully been highlighted in every piece of marketing. Even if that sequence closes with one of my biggest issues with the picture, it is still incredible!

If that is enough to make you want to see the movie, stop reading and go! You won’t regret it. If your reaction to that last “if” is to wait for the “but” inevitably arriving, you are probably the kind of person who wants the full breakdown. So, the next incendiary comment is for you in 3…2…1…

Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning is the weakest film in the series over the last 20 years.

Of all the named, rather than numbered, M:I films, I enjoyed The Final Reckoning the least. Much like the undeniable positives earlier, there are two definitive assailants for the cons. They are visual choices and narrative. As I did enjoy the movie and will be picking at nits, I will be brief.

Visual Choices: If you love Dutch angle shots, you will love this. My neck hurts. I believe the grandest stunt in the movie did not succeed in action and had to be shifted within the story that left both the narrative and escalation feel uneven and misplaced in the picture.

Narrative: While I can understand that the end of anything is emotional, almost entirely abandoning the witty fun that has made recent Mission: Impossible films so enjoyable in favor of repetitive longing scenes or dramatic pauses was a mistake. Yes, the drama is there, but when it feels rehashed multiple times, I could suggest something that would take this from a three-hour film to roughly two hours. The last story beats I have issue with would be spoilers, so check back in after you see the movie.

End of my gripe because Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is an absolutely amazing film and should be seen often in premium formats everywhere, I would be remiss if not acknowledging the obvious questions regarding how it holds up to the series. Being a good part of an all-time great series is better than most films could dream to be.