Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One review

Thanks to an infusion of dynamic new faces and the return of some franchise staples, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One is making the inconceivable a reality. This series somehow keeps getting better with each installment.

It seemed like the series had nowhere left to go but down after the stellar Mission: Impossible -Fallout. Star Tom Cruise and director/co-screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie missed the text. They keep aiming to top the last installment and clearly have been up to the challenge.

McQuarrie deserves a ton of credit for revitalizing the franchise without the need to continue playing director hot potato. With one director handling the last three installments, there’s a more consistent sense of cohesion and continuity for the presentation. And it doesn’t hurt that McQuarrie is in lockstep with Cruise’s vision.

Dead Reckoning kicks off with a dramatic opening act involving a Russian sub and a daring Ethan Hunt (Cruise) mission before the opening credits. That’s the tease that this is going to be the most action-packed, explosive installment yet.

Ethan is tasked with tracking down the key that can either control or destroy an insidious weapon — an evolving artificial intelligence that could send the world to ruin. As usual when he’s faced with slim odds to complete a mission, Ethan assembles his team of Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg) and Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson).

A staple of the first four films was the revolving team. McQuarrie opts to keep a core crew with the random addition. There’s a certain comfort level of the knowing Luther, Benji and Ilsa will always be there to have Ethan’s back. And they’re not as astonished by his insane ideas. Still, it would be nice for some callbacks with some of the old IMF agents.

Dead Reckoning’s new addition is Grace (Hayley Atwell, Avengers: Endgame), a thief who gets tangled into Ethan’s efforts to track down the key’s buyer. Ferguson has made for an amazing member of the team since her debut in 2015’s M:I – Rogue Nation.

Ilsa proved just as capable of handling herself in a scrap like Ethan. Grace is a welcome addition to the Mission: Impossible universe as she’s in over her head in the spy game world. She leans on her thief instincts and defaults into looking out for herself even as Ethan is trying to save her life. Atwell is superb here coming off like a megastar fully deserving of being the co-lead in Dead Reckoning.

In a fun casting choice, Atwell’s Agent Carter co-star Shea Whigham is also part of the cast as Briggs, an agent determined to bring Hunt in. Briggs’ partner, Degas (Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick co-star Greg Tarzan Davis), offers a welcome voice of reason as an agent who considers Ethan might have a reason for going against orders.

Having the team face an evil AI creates some interesting possibilities, but that can’t top having a great villain. Smartly, McQuarrie and co-screenwriter Erik Jendresen work in a physical and calculating threat with Gabriel (Esai Morales, Titans). Gabriel and Ethan have a longstanding history, which might be enough to cause Ethan to jeopardize the mission.

Morales is a magnificent bastard, but he can’t be everywhere at once. Enter Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) as Gabriel’s right-hand woman, Paris.

Klementieff has been a scene stealer in the Guardians/Avengers films but she is a revelation here bringing major Bond femme fatale energy as the unhinged back-up.

Paris has such a cool presence and is easily one of the more memorable secondary villains in the entire franchise.

Vanessa Kirby is back as mover and shaker, The White Widow. The recurring characters definitely help make the McQuarrie-era feel like it’s all part of one larger story.

The cinematography from Frances Taggart is gorgeous wonderfully showcasing the film’s very diverse locales.

As impressive as the characters and the performances go, Mission: Impossible is still and action franchise. Dead Reckoning sets the bar at an impossibly higher level with multiple action sequences that would be a standard action film’s best scene.

There’s the riveting car chase sequence, the alley battle, the duels on the bridge, the train rooftop brawl and the great train escape. The final act delivers the most breathtaking action in the franchise.

And as contractually obligated to state in every Mission: Impossible review, it’s insane and commendable that Cruise is so committed to making the stunts look real that does them himself.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One seemed a bit ambitious with its lengthy run time and a cliffhanger ending. By the time the credits rolled, it’s clear the franchise can go as long as Cruise and McQuarrie want it to at this point.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

You can get Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One now on Blu-Ray or 4K from Amazon.

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