Steven’s Review – “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning”

“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” is the penultimate film in the long-running “Mission Impossible” series, and the seventh installment overall. Marking the first entry of a two-part finale to the series, director Christopher McQuarrie returns to the helm to deliver another fantastic outing.

The film sees Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) as he is tasked with stopping a rogue artificial intelligence software known only as “the Entity.” Across a mammoth runtime of 163 minutes, the film combines both a timely commentary on the risks of the emergence of learning AI and a thrilling spy caper in another standout installment in the franchise.

This film and its sequel were shot on a record combined budget of $290 million, and you see every bit of that money on the screen. Standout action sequences include an opening submarine missile test gone awry in the Bering Sea and a multitiered car chase on the streets of Rome. A major highlight is a motorcycle jump that leads into a parachute dive from the Austrian Alps to kick off the final action set piece on the famed Orient Express steam train.

The cast is filled out with a wide range of skilled supporting players. Both returning stars such as Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg are joined by welcome new characters. Pom Klementiff (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”) is a standout as a hitwoman determined to stop Ethan in his mission at any cost. The Entity itself is a timely parable for the uncharted risks faced by the emergence of learning AI in our lives, setting the stage for an incredible end to one of cinema’s most resilient franchises (the second part is currently slated for summer 2024).

Overall, “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” kicks off the first part of a lively franchise finale; and is highly recommended for fans as a spectacular spy thriller.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales and Pom Klementiff

Rated PG-13

My Rating: *****/5