Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning Is a Huge Mess. But It’s a Fun Mess.

by

The main flaw in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning might be its inflated sense of self-importance. For a long time, the Mission: Impossible series served as a refreshing contrast to the expansive universe-building trend in Hollywood’s franchise era. Each movie was like a fresh mission, a daring heist, and an array of jaw-dropping stunts, with only modest connections between one film and the next – occasional additions to the team or secondary villains. This independence gave each film its own identity, allowing them to embrace their absurdity. The implausible storylines didn’t demand our full attention, which in a strange way made us more invested; we could concentrate on the exciting action without being bogged down by grand themes or intricate mythology. And the on-screen action was typically thrilling.

The ominous undertones had begun subtly in the previous film, “Dead Reckoning,” (originally titled “Part One,” adding to its sense of gravity). However, it still managed to maintain a delightful edge by skillfully orchestrating its wild action sequences. Christopher McQuarrie, who has helmed the last four installments and deserves much recognition for defining the unique aspects of this series, is adept at creating tension and misleading expectations. He knows how to keep us guessing, and he excels at constructing complex action scenes.

It’s disappointing to see such an excessive amount of gravity in the latest film, “Final Reckoning,” as the initial hour seems to be overwhelmed with heavy-handed recitations about Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)’s numerous accomplishments and misdeeds, delivered through repetitive montages of past installments and somber voiceovers. (“Every personal sacrifice you made has brought this world another sunrise.” “You are always the best of men, in the worst of times,” etc.) This could lead one to fear that the entire movie might turn into a self-contained episode, essentially a collection of clip reels bound together by various voices praising Hunt’s preordained fate, which is also reminiscent of Cruise’s own perceived destiny. (If they slipped in some clips from “Top Gun,” “Days of Thunder,” or “Edge of Tomorrow” into those montages, would we even detect a difference?)

In this film, it seems like the plot keeps changing and explanatory elements are frequently added to tie together various scenes, perhaps due to its prolonged production. Previously, lines like “Sir, Ethan Hunt is destiny personified” or “He’s a psychic, shape-shifting embodiment of chaos” were humorous, especially since they came from official characters. However, in this installment, it feels like the movie itself is repeating such lines. This could be an attempt to emphasize the hero’s selflessness as a precursor to potential peril, which is often used in Hollywood blockbusters to make us believe that the hero might not survive this time. As the franchise continues, these reminders of a leading actor’s mortality become increasingly dominant.

As a movie enthusiast, it’s striking how the villains in these films seem eerily similar to the global threats we read about today. The Entity, the omnipotent AI that was on the verge of world domination in “Dead Reckoning” and has nearly achieved it in “The Final Reckoning,” is often referred to as an “anti-god,” a “truth-devouring digital parasite,” and the “Master of Deception.” This technological apocalyptic language mirrors the movie’s portrayal of a troubled societal climate.

In one scene, Hunt steps onto London’s Trafalgar Square and recoils at the sight of a massive protest. The Entity seems to be driving us apart, fostering hatred among humans and fueling conflicts between nations. Hunt’s frustration with the state of the world varies in this film from subtly messianic to intensely cathartic. (“Stop wasting time on the internet!” Hunt shouts as he repeatedly kicks one faceless opponent in the face, a sentiment I believe Tom Cruise has harbored towards us since 2005.)

The acting that Tom Cruise, a man with undeniable talent and charisma, is asked to do here is minimal. However, when he stares directly into the camera and asks for our trust one last time, it doesn’t feel like Ethan Hunt requesting one final pardon from his team; instead, it feels like Tom Cruise appealing for our understanding, as if to say, “The exciting parts are coming up, I promise.

Indeed, it does! The positive aspect is that Final Reckoning, despite the catastrophe of its initial hour, eventually delivers an enjoyable, albeit chaotic, addition to the Mission: Impossible series. It manages this by muting the somber dialogue of its opening act and presenting a lengthy, clever (and surprisingly quiet) sequence within a submerged submarine, a vessel whose precarious position on the ocean floor guarantees that our protagonist will find himself tumbling and rolling around a room filled with potentially dangerous torpedoes. These films thrive on Tom Cruise demonstrating his Buster Keaton skills by appearing both elegant and absurd in challenging physical situations; this entire sequence, with its endless chain of underwater mishaps, is among the series’ finest.

Beyond what’s been shown, the anticipated stunt, as usual, is jaw-dropping. Here, Tom Cruise is seen hanging from a propeller plane’s wings, an understatement of the breathtaking sequence that unfolds. This incredible display of real-life bravery, interwoven with numerous confrontations, captivates us due to its frequent depiction of things going awry – quite in line with the Mission: Impossible series’ tradition. (Though it seems a bit excessive: For now, let’s set aside the fact that this climactic four-way scene is essentially a remix of the finale from the superior Mission: Impossible – Fallout.) Cruise mastered the concept that Ethan Hunt excels when he’s both graceful and struggling in the first film, and he’s impressively maintained this approach since. This is another reason why the earlier serious storm-and-stress never quite feels authentic; these movies excel when they’re funny.

Is the movie, “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” more of a failure or a success? Despite my initial concerns that it might turn out to be a disaster, I found myself enjoying the film overall. However, my doubts persisted throughout the second half. The entire production seems heavily influenced by the Marvel universe with its continuous references to previous films. This is evident not only in the recurring scenes from earlier movies but also in the reappearance of forgotten characters, unveiling hidden identities, and Easter eggs that seem unnecessary for fans of the Mission: Impossible series.

Additionally, there are noticeable inconsistencies in the plot, such as abandoned storylines, unfulfilled narrative promises, and one significant development that remains unexplained. The movie appears to be a mix of taking things too seriously and failing to deliver on that seriousness. It sometimes feels as if they’re still editing or even shooting parts of the film.

In conclusion, the most intriguing conflict in “The Final Reckoning” might be the hidden struggle between the authentic passion for art and storytelling evident throughout its suspenseful scenes, and the careless attempts to create a mythology around these films, possibly with future sequels and revenue generation in mind. The true danger of AI is its potential impact on human creativity, originality, and ambition; given the frequent repetitions and rehashes of previous films’ events in “Final Reckoning”, it sometimes seems as if the story could have been written by the very entity it portrays. However, one might interpret this as a triumph: Cruise and McQuarrie manage to reclaim their masterpiece from the manipulative clutches of the Deceiver, at least according to my perspective.

Read More

2025-05-14 23:54