Mission: Impossible 7 Review – Feast for Action Lovers

BOTTOM LINE
Feast for Action Lovers

OUR RATING
3/5

CENSOR
2h 45m, U/A Certified

What Is the Film About?

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is given a mission to retrieve a key that helps the owner gain control over an AI named Entity. The problem with this task is the entire superpowers are after it, and there is a bounty on the heads of agents.

What is the power of Entity? Why is control over it so important, and did Hunt get the keys forms the core plot of the seventh instalment of the series, Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Performances

Over the years, Tom Cruise has become synonymous with Agent Ethan Hunt’s character. Anyone who has seen the movies over the years will know why. It is no different here. The emotional content it offers makes Dead Reckoning Part One a bit above the others for the actor. Tom Cruise does it with all the sincerity. There is nothing to say on the action front. He takes it to the next level, always making one wonder what he can do next.

Analysis

Christopher McQuarrie directs Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. It is his fourth collaboration with Tom Cruise and his third directorial in the Mission Impossible franchise.

Needless to say, the director and the star of the show are deeply involved in the series and take extreme care in bringing the whole thing to the next level while maintaining the entertainment level simultaneously. We see their love for the franchise in every frame of the latest outing.

Anyone following the movies already knows the basic premise. As the title suggests, it concerns an impossible mission and how the team overcomes it. This time, the threat is deadliest, as it has no form.

The action and drama are weaved into the narrative keeping the threat in mind. A little knowledge, therefore, of the past and characters is mandatory to make things more enjoyable. One can still understand the proceedings, but prior knowledge definitely helps.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One can be divided into three segments narratively. The first one is the exposition relation to the main threat, i.e. the Entity. The second is the dramatic moments that arise as a direct consequence of the mission chosen. And finally, the third one is the action set pieces itself.

The exposition related to the core plot telling the viewer about the threat is dry. The narrative literally pauses when the conversation is about the Entity. It is the complexity behind it that needs addressing in such a way to get things across. One has to be attentive in these parts; otherwise, things might go over the head and make one leave thinking about what is all the fuzz about. It is also very essential as there is a direct relation to the next part.

Secondly, the drama involves characters which we have already travelled with. Also, the actors share a palpable chemistry. It makes the whole thing work and adds that emotional touch to the proceedings making it look like a narrative that is not all about bang-bang action.

And finally, the action set pieces are terrific. The length of each block varies, but they are fabulous and made for the big screen only. The desert storm fight at the start, or the Paris car chase, or the running in the narrow alleys, everything works perfectly. Then there is the mother of all episodes (within the movie) around the climax. These action sequences alone give worth of money if one is in for them.

When seen as a narrative, these three elements come one by one making the narrative look a little formulaic. It is in addition to the series ‘formulaic’ nature. Add the dryness of the central threat; parts of the movie do bore if one is unattentive or is there just for the bangs.

The climax is excellent, issues aside and sets things up neatly for the second part. There is a curiosity to see the mystery behind the Entity and what further surprises the story holds.

Overall, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One isn’t the ‘Best Outing’ of the series as parts drag and have content that can go over the head. But the fabulous visual and action spectacle offers more than enough that warrants a theatrical visit for sure.

Performances by Others Actors

The usual artists seen in the previous Mission Impossible flicks are seen here. Rebecca Fergusson, seen in the last two outings, is also here. She is excellent in the time she gets. Her chemistry with Tom Cruise makes the whole drama work. Ving Rames and Simon Pegg complete the team. They are superb and display the perfect group camaraderie.

Hayley Atwell is the new addition to the cast; she proves to be another great asset. Her character arc improves as the narrative progresses, and she rises to the occasion. Esai Morales is apt as the adversary despite having less screen time. Venessa Kirby is good in a brief appearance, and so are Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Henry Czemy etc., who shine in the given limed time.

Music and Other Departments?

Lorne Belfe’s background is excellent, periodically pumping up the tension and excitement. The pauses are also neatly done, where the music takes a backseat to the content and lets it do all the talking. And then there is the ‘Theme’ that assures the adrenaline pumping whenever used.

Fraser Taggart’s cinematography is brilliant. The action sequences offer a visual spectacle due to his work and the action choreography. The editing, too, is neat, as the narrative is kept clean and simple despite all the complex background stuff.

Highlights?

Tom Cruise

Action Blocks/Visuals

Casting

Screenplay

Drawbacks?

Slow Parts

Lengthy

Formulaic In Parts

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes

Will You Recommend It?

Yes

Mission: Impossible 7 Movie Review by M9News