The Latest Mission: Impossible Set the Bar for Action, but Stumbles with Its Story
When Tom Cruise steps on screen as Ethan Hunt, moviegoers know they're in for a ride. With Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, the adrenaline is amped higher than ever: the film premiered at Cannes and instantly split the crowd. On one hand, Cruise’s taste for danger remains undiluted. He charges through underwater tunnels in a submarine, braves a flooding chamber, then tops it off with a nail-biting biplane stunt, standing atop the wings mid-flight. If anyone doubted that Cruise still brings the heat at 62, this film settles the matter.
But even as Cruise clings to steel and streaks through skies, what’s happening on the ground feels heavy. This eighth entry drags on—close to three hours—and packs in so much plot you’ll wonder if you missed a pre-movie briefing. We get boardroom battles and long stretches of dialogue that circle around an AI adversary called "The Entity,” a threat already set up in the previous film. The tension fizzles during these talky parts; multiple critics commented that the exposition alone could make your head spin. Flashbacks and callbacks stack up, almost as if the movie can’t decide whether to wink at its legacy or power forward with new ideas.
Stunt Spectacle vs. Storytelling—Where Does the Film Land?
That clash between old and new is where reviews get lively. Fans and critics mostly agree the action is jaw-dropping. The biplane sequence—think Tom Cruise braving 120-mph wind on a rickety wing, no green screen in sight—may top every daredevil moment the series is known for. The production spares nothing when it comes to perfectly choreographed chaos: high-speed chases in narrow European streets, tense fight scenes in shadowy corridors, underwater escapes that look as treacherous as they sound. Each set-piece is filmed with tight focus, leaving no doubt about the stakes if Hunt screws up.
But, after all the noise and commotion, what about the story? Here’s where opinions split faster than a fuse on an IMF tape. The plot leans into recent worries about artificial intelligence—good topic, confusing delivery. Characters circle each other in scenes that are heavy on speeches but light on clarity. At times, the film feels tied down by its own history, referencing past missions through flashbacks rather than forging a bold new direction.
- Some say this is the grand send-off Ethan Hunt deserves: big, brash, unashamedly old-school.
- Others wish the filmmakers had risked more with storytelling, instead of playing it safe with familiar beats.
- Everyone agrees Tom Cruise’s personal commitment is unmatched—the man still insists on doing every stunt himself.
- Audiences looking for pure spectacle will find plenty to cheer about, even if the storylines leave them scratching their heads.
Whether you think the movie nails the landing or just circles the sky, one thing is clear: Tom Cruise makes sure the spectacle never slows down, even if the same can’t be said for the plot.
