Mission: Impossible – Fallout Isn’t A Bomb

The cinematic mission that I chose to accept was to review the latest entry in the Mission Impossible franchise. Does this 22-year-old series of films still have what it takes, or does it self-destruct? This is Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

After the IMF fail an important mission and bad guy Solomon Lane escapes custody, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begins to question his loyalty and his motives. Hunt finds himself in a race against time, hunted by assassins and former allies while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.

I will just be blunt, this movie is dumb and it puts up no pretenses trying to convince the viewer otherwise.

I haven’t watched a Mission Impossible movie since Mission Impossible II, right around the time that Tom Cruise starting jumping on Oprah’s couch and telling the Today show how much he knew about psychology thanks to the gospel of L Ron Hubbard.

All kidding aside, I would say this franchise has definitely found its bearings alongside the likes of the Fast and Furious series when it comes to action.

The story is nothing to write home about it, littered with predictability and you can see the big twist by the top of the second act, at the latest! No spoilers but if you can’t tell who the bad guy is you either might need glasses or are in serious denial.

But no one comes to these movies for the gripping drama and intelligent social commentary, it’s all about the action, baby, and Fallout brings it at a mile-a-minute pace! Cruise’s love for stunt work is still as on point as ever and for someone pushing 60 he doesn’t look half bad doing it. Fight scenes were insanely kinetic and matched only by the tension the various chase scenes.

There was a good amount humor in this one too, and having missed a good chunk of the in-between of this series,  I can only assume it has become a staple; either way the jokes never overstayed their welcome, regardless of how groan inducing some of them were.

The score didn’t disappoint, mixing EDM with the established spy motif sound that makes these movies all the more memorable.

Costuming and setting show that this movie has an absurd budget as well. If Paramount can afford to make this many M:I movies then they can afford to make Fallout look as cool as it does.

The strongest performances come from the mainly returning cast. Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin are all comfortable in their characters and I have no complaints about their roles.

Newcomer Angela Bassett is basically playing Amanda Waller from DC comics fame does a damn fine job doing so.

Vanessa Kirby, who plays the arms broker “White Widow” was my favorite character, snarky, sexy, and unafraid of anyone. I want her to have a spinoff of some sort!

Henry Cavill, well he played Henry Cavill; the man is so stiff on screen and has no charisma.

Christopher McQuarrie has clearly found his niche with this franchise as director writer and producer. If he keeps making these then I’ll probably keep watching them.

It’s not a perfect movie, but when it comes to knowing what it is and what audience, Mission: Impossible – Fallout definitely accomplishes its mission.

I give Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Paramount, Bad Robot, Skydance; PG-13, 2hr 27min)  a 3.5 out of 5.