Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning Part 2 (aka, M:I 8) picks up where Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 left off in 2023 (you can read my review here). An Artificial Intelligence called The Entity is taking over the world and nation-states are powerless to stop it. President of the United States Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) offers Ethan Hunt (aka, Tom Cruise) an Impossible Mission: Stop the AI from taking over all the nuclear installations in the world and firing those nuclear missiles to wipe out humanity.
Of course, in true Mission Impossible fashion, Hunt builds a team to help him stop the deadly AI. My favorite is Grace (Hayley Atwell, aka “Agent Carter”) whose impressive skills at picking pockets plays a key role in this impossible mission. Simon Pegg is back playing tech-guy Benji Dunn and Ving Rhames returns as Luther Stickell, resident genius. I’m fond of Pom Klementieff as Paris–“I kill people.”
And to spice things up, Hannah Waddingham (aka, Rebecca Welton of Ted Lasso) plays Admiral Neely who commands an air-craft carrier. But with a running time of 2 hours and 50 minutes, be prepared for some scenes to drag.
As usual, Tom Cruise performs some incredible stunts–and takes a lot of punishment. There’s a long underwater sequence. There’s an eye-popping bi-plane gymnastics free-for-all. If you’re in the mood for a long, rambling action movie, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning Part 2 fits the bill. Just set the bar low. The first Tom Cruise Mission Impossible came out in 1996. Now 29 years later, this franchise just might be over. GRADE: B
I’ve never loved them, but have mostly enjoyed those I’ve seen. Not a lot of genuine surprises.
Todd, I’m mildly entertained by Tom Cruise’s MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE movie franchise. Not a lot of competition…
I’ve watched most of them, but meh. All flash-bang and little else. Each film in the series has seemed like an ego trip for Cruise, who needs to inflate his ego just about as much as I need to put on a few more pounds. The series has always left a slight bad feeling in my mouth ever since the first one, where they trashed the original concept by [SPOILER ALERT!] making Jim Phelps the bad guy — something akin to making the Lone Ranger the secret head of the Butch Cavendish Gang. And, although I like many of Cruise’s films, I admit to a certain antipathy toward the actor himself; he’s just not the type of person I would want anyone in my family to model.
Jerry, that Jim Phelps incident comes into play in MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING.
What Jerry said about the first one. I wouldn’t watch one for love or money.
Where is EDGE OF TOMORROW 2, Tommy?
Jeff, Bill Crider (and I) loved EDGE OF TOMORROW. Why there’s no sequel yet is a mystery…
I have a nostalgic soft spot for the original TV series, as formulaic and silly as it was. When I read a review of the first movie and learned that Jim Phelps was the bad guy who kills off the rest of the original IMF gang I lost all interest in the movie. The sheer childishness of some Hollywood hack being so annoyed that the only work they could get was adapting a television series so they decided to piss all over it was appalling. Imagine if Nick Meyer had turned Captain Kirk into a villain and killed off the original “Star Trek” crew for “Wrath of Khan.”
I was never a fan of the nineties and early aughts action movie genre either so this one is a definite pass (also, the idea that they somehow contrive to get Tom Cruise’s character on a stunt plane just so he can do his shtick is laughably stupid). The fact everyone involved is pretending that this one is not “Part II” and that they somehow spent 400 million on it is the final kicker.
Byron, the AMC theater where we saw MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING was the most active I’ve seen since the Pandemic! About half the people were there for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE and the other half–kids and their parents–were there for Lilo & Stitch. The line for popcorn was out the door!
Call me cynical, but I’d like to see documentary footage of Cruise’s “stunts” before the scenes are edited and CGI’ed. Not that it matters; this will be another money-maker, especially given the dearth of expensive, publicised-up-the-wazoo summer movies.
Fred, before MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING began, the audience was forced to watch 20 minutes of Previews of really bad movies coming out this Summer. I don’t care about SUPERMAN, JURASSIC PARK, FANTASTIC 4, or all the lame comedies.
Although I have seen most of them, I have never much enjoyed them. Or him.
Patti, I’m impressed by Tom Cruise doing his own stunts. The ones in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING are amazing!
I once read that Tom Cruise is a very prominent member of Scientology …
Is that still true?
Wolf. evidently Scientology tends to target weak, easily susceptible minds, oftrn when they are at a low point in either their careers or their life. It’s my understanding that Tom Cruise was no exception. He is arguably the most famous scientologist out there, even outstripping old L. Ron himself.
Jerry, L. Ron Hubbard was a successful writer before he invented his religion!
Wolf, I’m sure Cap’n Bob will weigh in on that!