Summary
7 tech score
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (Paramount)
Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in the sixth of the series of movies based on the “Mission: Impossible” TV show. Once again audiences get to thrill to the sound of Lalo Schifrin’s musical theme, a true highlight of any “MI” movie. And they get to once more see most of the old gang – Benji (Simon Pegg), Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson), Luther (Ving Rhames) and Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin). Other familiar faces from the past pop up in a few scenes.
The heart of the film is still Hunt’s love and loyalty to his ex-wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan). There are flashbacks early on that show she is still on his mind. He loves her, but he can’t be with her without putting her in jeopardy. Then there is also that romantic feeling he has for Ilsa.
Where the movie soars is in the action sequences. Old Tom Cruise (he’s over fifty) is still running, jumping, fighting like a twenty year old. And if the statements issued by the studio are correct he does most, if not all, of his own stunts. You can look as closely as possible and try to find a stuntman’s face but it never happens.
Still the action sequences are the best things about the movie and also the worst. The makers of this movie should have remembered you can overplay the hand. If a car chase will rev up the excitement then how about a motorcycle chase to out do that. And, wait for it, if these two chases get the adrenalin going then surely a helicopter chase would blow audiences out of their seats. It is so repetitive it becomes too much of a good thing.
This also applies to the plot. Henry Cavil is cast as Walker, a CIA agent assigned to work with the IMF team. Early on you have doubts as to this man’s loyalty so it becomes an is he or isn’t he an opponent of the IMF mission . Then along comes Ilsa and her actions make you wonder if she is true blue too. There are plot twists on top of plot twists so that by the time you get to the end of the movie you don’t really care that there has been a big plot reveal.
Cruise certainly has the Ethan Hunt character down pat, and his ability to do so many stunts is an amazing thing to see. Still it wouldn’t have been a “Mission: Impossible” movie if Benji and Luther hadn’t been along for the ride. As soon as either of these two appear on the screen you know you are going to have a good time.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
If you like action/adventure movies you are going to have a great time. It is all good – but you might be like me and think there can be a little too much of a good thing.
I scored “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” a possible 7 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
