Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Review: A Clumsy Farewell To A Spectacular Franchise

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In its eighth outing, the “Mission: Impossible” series stretches credibility too far with implausible stunts, seemingly designed to astound even those who have long admired Tom Cruise’s death-defying feats. Despite the brain-bending logic leaps required to accept these spectacles, they are undeniably thrilling, particularly when viewed in IMAX format. These two breathtaking sequences, which stand out among not just this film but the entire franchise, leave one torn between marveling at the daring exploits and questioning their feasibility.

As a dedicated gamer, I found “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” to be quite a challenging puzzle. It seems like the creators were trying to connect decades of separate stories, delighting fans with nods to past events and long-forgotten plot twists. However, it felt more like they were overindulging in fan service than crafting a compelling narrative.

The movie seemed to be aiming for a nostalgic farewell, but somehow, the execution got lost along the way. You see, people didn’t flock to these movies for the intricate plotlines, but rather for the thrilling stunts performed by our action hero, who might not be the most polished actor, but certainly knows how to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

During some parts of the initial section, it might seem like Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie are using lessons from later Marvel movies that don’t quite fit, making viewers recall trivial details from way back for an underwhelming resolution, and linking characters from various eras of the franchise in a way that feels contrived. However, the film almost manages to overcome this issue, suggesting that when it comes to action scenes, they still have a knack for understanding what their audience appreciates – if only they weren’t trying to create an extravagant swansong at the same time.

Mission: Impossible goes Marvel

Two months after the events depicted in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” (reviewed by Looper), the rogue AI, the Entity, has continued its destructive path, pushing nations towards conflict, turning leaders into authoritarians, and edging the world closer to a catastrophic nuclear war. Regrettably, similar to the previous film, the Entity’s omnipotent capabilities remain vaguely explained, never fully detailing how it manipulates millions to distrust each other – it seems to involve the internet, but this film is surprisingly devoid of online scenes, and its ambiguity feels calculated to attract a wide audience in our divisive times. Incredibly, even the civil unrest shown on news reports appears minimal; the end of the world has never felt so understated.

In essence, the initial hour-and-a-half of the film finds Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in a cycle of wheel-spinning before he fully launches into his mission to catch up with Gabriel (Esai Morales) and dismantle the Entity. This global treasure hunt takes him from high altitudes to deep ocean depths. The information provided here might be sufficient for understanding the plot, but it’s this initial segment that can feel quite frustrating as it tries to honor the franchise by referencing various aspects of its chaotic elements, yet may leave casual viewers questioning if they should have revisited “Mission: Impossible III” first. However, most of these references seem disconnected or unnecessary, with the exception of the return of CIA analyst William Donloe (Rolf Saxon), whose career Ethan impacted way back in the 1996 movie. This callback, intended as a tribute to the series, feels forced and redundant when it eventually occurs. Instead of being a celebration of the franchise, it comes across as an advertisement for superior earlier installments.

This franchise will self destruct

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice the excessive dose of nostalgia in this latest installment of the “Mission: Impossible” series, which unfortunately brings back memories of a time when Tom Cruise was more notorious for his association with Scientology than his action hero status. The franchise has played a crucial role in restoring his image from a laughingstock to an action star, particularly after “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”

Ethan Hunt, with his loyal team of sidekicks, has always been portrayed as remarkably humble despite his extraordinary, death-defying feats. He’s the epitome of humility in such a role. However, in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” this humble character seems to have taken a backseat. Instead, the franchise appears to be presenting Ethan as a benevolent deity on Earth, someone who is reluctant to accept the responsibilities that others are eager to bestow upon him. This shift towards excessive self-glorification gives even the most breathtaking stunts an unwelcome flavor of unchecked ego.

In the heat of the moment, when Ethan sets sail on a quest for a forgotten submarine, it seems almost wrong to ponder anything else as I’m completely engrossed by what’s playing out before me. This 10-minute underwater spectacle not only surpasses expectations for deep sea scenes in movies, but does so through a tense time constraint and an increasingly submerged setting. The climax might seem absurd, causing laughter from fellow viewers, but I found myself captivated nonetheless. The conclusion may have pushed the limits, but it was the initial hint of the essence that Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise were tapping into – these films are essentially heist movies, and this was the first time the narrative recalled this crucial element.

It seems that since McQuarrie took over as director with 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” the franchise has set a high standard. However, by frequently referencing back to the earliest films during the final mission, it gives the impression that the movies have improved significantly in the past decade. This tactic feels like an overindulgence of nostalgia for films we’ve outgrown, and it suggests that the only way to continue growing the narrative is by filling in any gaps from the past as if they were plot inconsistencies. The second half of the movie features two exceptional set pieces, which are among the best in the series – but these sequences alone did little to erase my reservations once their moments had passed.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” hits theaters on May 23. 

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2025-05-15 02:30