The eighth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise has arrived, synonymous with summer blockbusters. Did this entry provide a fitting farewell to the franchise, or was the final film simply unable to meet expectations?
“Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” is directed and co-written by Christopher McQuarrie and stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Nick Offerman, Pom Klementieff, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, and Simon Pegg. In this film, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) embarks on one last mission to stop an AI known as “Entity” before it takes over the world.
In an era where visual effects and green screens dominate, it feels refreshing to experience a Mission Impossible film that immerses viewers in huge sets and showcases Tom Cruise’s exhilarating, death-defying stunts.
However, while this film serves as the franchise’s swan song, it often suffers from excessive exposition. We are frequently reminded of events from previous films, and the plan to stop the Entity is explained in detail multiple times. The dialogue, at times, feels cringeworthy, and the camera angles and shots can be distracting. An abundance of low-angle and medium close-ups detracts from the overall impact, making many serious moments come across as unintentionally humorous.
A submarine sequence promised to be thrilling but ultimately fell flat due to a lackluster journey. While the action sequences are entertaining, some moments feel repetitive and frustrating.
I had high hopes for Esai Morales’s character, Gabriel, but he ultimately becomes a one-dimensional villain with little substance, only becoming relevant in the film’s third act. I wanted to root for him, but it proved difficult. Additionally, the dynamic between Cruise and Atwell feels unconvincing, as there is a lack of chemistry that diminishes the stakes of their relationship.
The rest of the cast was decent. Benji (played by Pegg) and Luther (played by Rhames) were excellent, but the other characters assisting Ethan Hunt on his mission felt convenient and seemed to be present just to serve the plot. As a result, I wasn’t particularly invested in their outcomes. The government team came across as overly serious, and their dialogue often felt monotonous and overly dramatic.
The film does include sporadic humorous moments, but I found myself worn out by its sluggish pace, which prevented me from fully enjoying them. Speaking of pace, the runtime of 2 hours and 51 minutes is excessive—an hour could easily have been trimmed. Repetitive information, flashbacks, and unnecessary lingering shots hinder the film’s flow.
The third act (the final 30 minutes) is sure to be discussed for years to come. Tom Cruise achieves the unbelievable and pushes his limits. The film’s promotion centers around this sequence (which involves planes), and I found myself on the edge of my seat, almost feeling like I was about to have a cardiac arrest multiple times during this segment. Cruise skillfully maneuvers around planes flying at high altitudes, hanging off the side of a wing as the aircraft flips, creating numerous heart-stopping moments.
Overall, “The Final Reckoning” excels in its action sequences and delivers a nail-biting last 30 minutes. However, everything that precedes those moments is bogged down by unnecessary exposition, overwhelming explanations, and overly dramatic acting. This mission was indeed tough to sit through, but I managed it.
Rating: 5/10