The Mission: Impossible franchise is unique because each movie has a different director and, unlike the James Bond or Harry Potter franchises, each director really brings his own vision to the series. J.J. Abrams’ style fits well into the M:I world because his projects have elements of various genres within them. That’s what makes this an enjoyable movie.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is trying to settle down. He has retired from active field work for the Impossible Missions Force and is now engaged to nurse Julia (Michelle Monaghan). Of course, we know things aren’t going to be easy for them, because the film opens with Ethan and Julia tied to chairs and a gun pressed against Julia’s head while Ethan is interrogated. We cut back to Ethan being lured out of retirement by IMF agent John Musgrave (Billy Crudup) to rescue Ethan’s protégé, Lindsey (Keri Russell) from arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman-the man holding the gun at the beginning of the film). Ethan and his team–Declan Gormley (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Zhen Lei (Maggie Q), and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames)–go to Berlin to rescue her, but Lindsey dies when a small explosive planted in her skull is detonated. The team then decides to go rogue and capture the elusive Davian. They are successful, but Davian is in turn rescued by his mercenaries and kidnaps Julia. Ethan is then sent by Davian to steal the “Rabbit’s Foot” and deliver it to him for Julia’s life.
I liked this movie because of the humor Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman injected into the story. The first two films were so serious. There were a couple amusing parts, especially in the first film, but it actually looks like Cruise is having fun making this movie. There’s also an irreverence to some of the humor and action. You also feel like the IMF team is more fully-formed than in the second film. It made me more invested in the film and anxious for what would happen. This is good storytelling for what could otherwise have been a by-the-numbers action movie.
3.5/5
Brian's Film Log 