Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One review by Bobby Blakey
TV series making the transition to the big screen has been all the rage for years, but more often than not they fall flat. When Tom Cruise teamed up with Brian De Palma to bring Mission Impossible to the big screen in 1996 no one could have imagined that it would still be going strong today. With the 5th film, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation director Chrisopher McQuarrie took over the franchise and has been leading the charge alongside Cruise ever since.
Now we are heading into the long anticipated seventh film in the series that is clearly not the last with Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One. The film brings back old and new cast alongside franchise frontrunner Cruise including Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Henry Czerny, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Mark Gatiss, Charles Parnell, Greg Tarzan Davis, and Frederick Schmidt.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One follows Ethan Hunt and his IMF team who must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands. With new enemies, old allies, and Hunt’s own past coming back to haunt him, it truly might be an impossible mission.
While I was originally never a big fan of the original film it has grown on me over the years and I love this entire franchise. Since the 5th film they have just gotten better and better in not only the big epic stunts, but just overall action spy flick in general. Every time a new entry comes out I wonder will this be the one that finally falls apart? Well this one isn’t it as it once again knocks it out of the park in the series, but not without its faults.
The story here is more of the familiar twists and turns with fun action sprinkled throughout. Cruise is once again in top form bringing the usual swag and confidence to the role, but the addition of this past coming back brings a vulnerability that makes him all the more interesting to watch this time around. The supporting cast are all great with Pegg and Rhames having some great moments together and the overall relationship of the trio being excellent.
Haley Atwell is a great addition to the series not only being great in the role, but it’s her banter and chemistry with Cruise that makes it all the better. They are great together and spend a lot more of the film together than anyone else and it is a welcome team up. Loved seeing Esai Morales in the villain role and chew up every scene he is in.
Per usual this film sports ton of great action throughout complete with a massive sequence in the finale. I will say there was some pacing issues for me here and there and felt like a few elements dragged at times, but nothing that hurt the movie overall. It is another great entry into the franchise giant that keeps you wanting more. Despite it being a part one, it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but more of a more to come story arc so still felt complete at the moment while still eager for the next entry.
In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including deleted scenes, featurettes and so much more. Join the latest mission when Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One available now on digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on October 31st from Paramount Home Entertainment.
