Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
A rogue A.I. referred to as “the entity” has gone missing. A mysterious cross-shaped key the entity needs is out on the black market and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team have been tasked with finding it. With various forces standing in their way, including the sentient algorithm that is always multiple steps ahead, finding the key will not be simple.
That is about the simplest way I can describe the plot of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE without getting too far into the weeds or giving away some of the fun that transpires over the Film’s gargantuan 163-minute running time. Much like the rest of the Series, there are double and triple crosses, people wearing intricate face masks and impersonating others, an overcomplicated plot that is best enjoyed without much scrutiny, and Tom Cruise yelling, running and taking part in some of the most outrageous stunts ever captured on film.
You know, your typical MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film.
Sitting down to watch DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, you would never know it is the seventh entry in a Franchise that is nearly 30 years-old (that itself was based on a TV Series from nearly sixty years ago). Oscar-winning Co-Writer/Director Christopher McQuarrie – who has been steering the ship since 2015’s Rogue Nation – does an incredible job keeping the proceedings fresh and ridiculously exciting. Yes, a knowledge of the Franchise’s previous films certainly helps with understanding character motivations and who some of these characters are (Canadian Henry Czerny returns to the Series and is just as much of a thorn in Ethan Hunt’s side as he was back in 1996!), though not as necessary as you might think. Once the fuse is lit after the extended prologue, the Movie turns everything up to 11 and only lets up from its relentless barrage of action and thrills once before slamming to credits. The packed crowd I saw this with were left gasping for air more than once, and you could genuinely feel the anxiety pulsing through the crowd throughout some of the more hair-raising moments.
That Tom Cruise really knows how to keep an audience enthralled from beginning to end.
Speaking of Cruise, he is terrific here no matter the situation. McQuarrie and Co-Writer Erik Jendresen put him through hell and back, and then right back to hell, and Cruise just keeps rolling with the punches. He remains one of our last bonafide movie stars and remains committed throughout. The determination on his face in some scenes is worth the price of admission alone, and coupled with the spectacular stunts he takes part in make DEAD RECKONING PART ONE an absolute must-see on the biggest and loudest screen you can find. He is my favourite Working Actor and when he turns on the charisma and shines those beautiful teeth, it is not hard to see why. The man just turned 61 and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
While nothing will ever top the Burj Khalifa climb in Ghost Protocol, the stunts here do a damn good job trying. A relentless car chase through Rome is among the finest ever conceived and will leave you dumbfounded trying to figure out how they pulled it off. And that mountain top freefall that you have seen promoted all over the trailers and posters? Seeing it play out entirely is an exhilarating, show-stopping moment for the ages. You know Cruise survives, but your heart will still be mere seconds from exploding out of your chest as you grip the arm rests praying we are not watching him perish for the sake of entertainment. My blood pressure is skyrocketing just from thinking about it.
All of that said, there are a few elements that hold DEAD RECKONING PART ONE back from eternal greatness. There are too many exposition dumps filled with enough scientific jargon and nuclear hyperbole that will make your head spin. I expected a lot of nonsensical dialogue hyping up the stakes, just maybe not as much as this. The CGI is also a bit dodgy in some sequences, especially in the lengthy Third Act aboard the Orient Express. New Cast members like Pom Klementieff and Hayley Atwell (who nearly steals the show on numerous occasions) are wonderful additions, while others like the villainous Esai Morales remain frustratingly enigmatic. Even the returning characters not named Ethan Hunt seem to be undercut and underutilized, with one specific character egregiously fridged and getting even less to do than you would ever expect.
Some of these issues can be chocked up to this Film being the first part of a two-part story, and may end up being smoothed out once PART TWO is (hopefully) released next year. With this Film coming in at 163-minutes – by far the longest running time of any entry in the franchise – I expected a little more on some of these fronts. McQuarrie, to his credit, thankfully ends the film at exactly the right moment, ensuring you will not feel cheated by its semi-cliffhanging ending.
Though there are definitely some rough elements that could have been better finessed, I would be lying if I suggested MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE was anything short of an adrenaline shot straight to the heart. Cruise is great, Atwell is aces, and the stunt work is absolutely breathtaking. Lorne Balfe’s Score goes hard and makes this mission an epic must-see this July. Once the Movie ended and the credits rolled, I was immediately ready to get lost in PART TWO. Since I cannot do that just yet, I will settle for rewatching PART ONE as soon as I can. I just need to remember to wear an oxygen mask so I do not forget to breathe.
Paramount Pictures Canada release MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, with Special Advanced Screenings on Monday, July 10 and Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
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