Scaling skyscrapers, skydiving, and car chases – all quintessential parts of a Mission: Impossible movie. So, Christopher McQuarrie, lead writer and director of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, what happened? It seems you’ve forgotten what an action movie is – or what it should be – turning the beloved series into a drama with little in the way of action.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the first in a two-part collective and is the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible series. It stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, a specially-trained operative for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) tasked with taking down “The Entity,” a powerful rogue AI. Alongside new and returning faces, notably Ving Rhames as Luther and Simon Pegg as Benji, the IMF attempts to acquire a two-piece Cruciform key to deactivate the all-knowing artificial intelligence.
While somewhat innovative for the Mission: Impossible franchise, the plot is confusing even for the most seasoned of fans. At the outset, viewers are brought aboard the Sevastopol, a next-generation Russian stealth submarine that employs a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence. After the AI goes rogue and sinks the ship, killing everyone aboard, the cruciform key suspiciously disappears, leaving the fate of the world in the hands of the highest bidder. This is a lot of information to absorb, and Dead Reckoning does a poor job of laying it all out to the viewers. In past films, the first scene spoke for itself, efficiently and effectively presenting the threat. This no longer seems to be the case. Hours in, the importance of the cruciform key is still a mystery, as is MI’s plan for the IMF to acquire it. These same feelings continue until the credits – the plot feels too complex to fully appreciate and enjoy the excellent acting within the movie.
The acting and final production really are great, save for some minor gripes on character identity and frequency of appearance.
Tom Cruise, no matter how much he’s aged since the franchise began in 1996, still fits the role of Ethan perfectly. He’s demonstrated that no matter what drift, stunt or fight ahead, he’s up for the challenge. However, many would’ve liked to see the rest of the IMF team, including Luther and Benji, more often – such beloved and instrumental characters in past films take a backseat role in Dead Reckoning.
It seems Luther and Benji have made way for Grace played by Hayley Atwell, a jewel and fine arts thief who aids Hunt in his mission to track down the key. While the director attempts to shroud her in mystery – viewers never learn her last name – she is so present in the film that there’s no mystery to solve. Her identity just ends up feeling shallow and underwhelming compared to the extensive backstory of other leading characters.
Moviegoers watch action films to escape the world they live in – they aren’t interested in stunts and scenes they themselves can perform.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning was nominated for two Oscars: achievement in sound and achievement in visual effects. The sound fits the movie well – viewers will appreciate the diversity within the soundtrack – it feels that every piece was custom fit for the scene at hand. It is underwhelming, however, compared to the likes of other nominees such as Oppenheimer – I just don’t see anyone listening to the Dead Reckoning soundtrack afterward.
On the other hand, the visual effects are top-notch – it is incredibly difficult to distinguish between real and CGI. Mission: Impossible has come a long way in this regard, better visual effects will inevitably lead to a better viewing experience.
Still, the biggest issue with Dead Reckoning is rooted in a lack of action within the movie. The franchise has long been known for the most extreme of stunts, pushing Tom Cruise and other stunt doubles to their absolute limits: scaling the Burj Khalifa, jumping out and grasping onto the side of planes, and infiltrating underwater data vaults made a name out of the series. When viewers think of a Mission: Impossible film, they think of these iconic scenes, and with one of the largest budgets for any production ever, there were high hopes.
The opportunity for an incredible car chase in Italy, for example, was ruined by Grace’s cringe-worthy ability to drive. Many can only think back to Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, a film with a perfectly executed bike chase scene that saw Hunt scream down canyons in pursuit of a ledger. Dead Reckoning, by comparison, leaves the viewer yearning for two wheels.
In the past, protagonists were embarrassed by their enemies, creating a plot twist that led to a genuinely interesting movie. More and more, however, it seems the protagonists are embarrassing themselves. Moviegoers watch action films to escape the world they live in – they aren’t interested in stunts and scenes they themselves can perform. Mission: Impossible attempts to rewrite what an action movie is, with a plot and antagonist that creates tension throughout the film. In the process, however, it seems to lose the very essence of an action movie.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is worth a watch for fans devoted to the series if only to get caught up. The plot, never mind how confusing, is a strong successor to the previous films. If, however, this is your introduction to the MI franchise, pass on this one. A once action-filled series has been watered down with emotions, drama and love – but not the typical romance-enjoyers would appreciate. The acting, sound, and visual effects are still top-notch, but it seems the series has lost its way.
Rating: ★★
