Mission Impossible: Fallout - Review

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Tom Cruise takes off again as super US spy Ethan Hunt in the 6^th installment in what has become almost his own personal James Bond-ish franchise type film in “Mission Impossible: Fallout”. 

This time out Ethan Hunt and the IMF team join forces with CIA assassin August Walker to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. Arms dealer John Lark and a group of terrorists known as the Apostles plan to use three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack on the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca, Saudi Arabia. When the weapons go missing, Ethan and his crew find themselves in a desperate race against time to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Actors Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames along with some familiar allies Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan are back for this large ensemble effort including some new actors Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, and Vanessa Kirby rounding out the dynamic cast.

REVIEW: Rare does any good movie have two great scenes; this “MI-Fallout" effort has about six and in this case I mean action great. First an impressive harrowing high altitude skydive at night. Then an all-out hand to hand fight in a pristine white bathroom. Next was a “Mad – Max: Fury Road“ comparable style motorcycle chase in Paris. Then a foot chase on top of buildings again in Paris. A roller coaster aerial Helicopter chase over rugged terrain. And finally hand to hand combat on the top and side of a jagged rock faced mountain. So visually the kinetic entertainment energy on display in the film makes it a very gratifying 2:24 minute viewing experience with its buffet of endless mayhem, daredevil escapes and visual intrigue.

However, for me the obvious flaw in “MI-F” is its plot which seems very convoluted, soulless and dare I say sometimes just plain stupid with not really much raw tension baked in its DNA for all of the many chases and clock ticking downward to certain disaster moments. I mean, this film is telling a story that the world is on the precipice of nuclear disasters right? Well, OK, then make me feel it’s going to happen which is where I feel the film falls short in that it never really attacked my subconscious that real pending doom was about to occur. Ethan Hunt in this film felt less like an ordinary man trying to save the world and more like Superman minus the costume and cape saving the world......... and of course we all know…..”Superman always saves the world in the end”.

In addition the central diabolical villain in the film named “Solomon Lane” felt less like some super evil genius and more like some Oxford educated homeless person with a British accent in more of a desperate need of a shower, shave and haircut than someone actually capable of threatening all of humanity. His portrayal for me was terribly flat and underwhelming. And to compound matters further the infusion of so many characters in this film, some feeling almost interchangeable to my mind, made everything about the events feel less and less compelling to the larger plot as the story proceeded to its neck break speed finale. 

Still, its summer and overall “Mission Impossible: Fallout” while is about 30 minutes way too long is still a very good throwback old fashion Hollywood blockbuster action flick. A thrilling ride, filled with tons of gusto, highly imaginative action scenes - sequences and just ridiculous fun…………………….TO WATCH – NOT TO THINK ABOUT TOO MUCH.

3.50 Stars