| My rating | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critics | Audience | Critics | Audience | |
| 9/10 | 81/100 | 8.3/10 | 99% | Not available yet |
When the audience collectively gasps and breaks into applause in the middle of a movie, you know you’re seeing something special. And that’s what happened a couple of times when I saw Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in theaters.
While it’s still too early to update my Mission: Impossible ranking, it’s safe to say that Dead Reckoning Part One left me on the edge of my seat multiple times. So much so that the 2h43min flew by and, by the time it was over, I was more than ready for Part Two.
If the threat in No Time To Die in 2021 seemed timely, with a virus that would spread through contact, Dead Reckoning Part One seems even more perfect for our current problems, with modern technology – and the desire to control it – being the central part of the plot.
Once again, it is up to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his familiar IMF (Impossible Mission Force) crew to try to obtain the literal key that would give the power to control this “Entity,” as the movie calls it.
The action never stops, with extended thrilling scenes in Rome, Venice, and aboard (and on top of) the Orient Express. Every time the movie hints at stopping, they go a little further and don’t let the audience catch their breath. The score by Lorne Balfe also helps with the pacing by keeping the sense of urgency throughout the movie.
Tom Cruise is, once again, doing his own stunts and it’s truly hard to imagine what else he could possibly do. Apart from the action sequences, he still manages to play Ethan Hunt with some levity and humor, especially when he’s interacting with Simon Pegg, who’s been hilariously playing Benji since Mission: Impossible III (2006).
It’s also nice to see Henry Czerny reprising his role as Eugene Kittridge, since he had only appeared on the very first Mission: Impossible (1996). Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby are also back and it’s a delight to see that Vanessa has more to do this time around!
New additions to the cast include Hayley Atwell, playing the mysterious Grace, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, and Shea Whigham.
Dead Reckoning Part One is not a perfect movie, with some plot problems that would involve spoilers. However, the good parts massively outweigh its flaws and it’s a highly fun and entertaining movie. I really hope Ethan Hunt keeps choosing to accept more missions!
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One opens on July 12th.
