Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Review

Editor’s Note: Paramount Pictures and Viacom18 Studios invited IGN India for an early screening of Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part One. The film will officially release worldwide on July 12.

Four years after the first announcement, Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, is all set to hit theatres worldwide on July 12. Another big blockbuster to make its mark this summer, the highlight of the film, as expected, is the star himself, Tom Cruise. And once again, he doesn’t fail to impress audiences with his sheer screen presence that oozes charisma, and restraint, albeit the 61-year-old actor no longer possesses the boyish charm and playfulness that has enticed fans for long.

Action at its best

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One promised audiences never-before-seen action sequences, and the film certainly delivers. Despite hearing stories of Cruise risking his life while attempting some of the most dangerous stunts, the trailers only provided glimpses of what the film had in store. Action film lovers are in for a treat, and I must say it could be the treat of a lifetime. I would not be exaggerating if I claimed there were moments that made me jump out of my seat. Even at the age of 61, Cruise impresses with his raw punches and kicks.

The set pieces were just as grand to match the massive scale of the talent on screen. The final train sequence is a worthy mention of the same, with some nail-biting moments acting as the perfect closure to the otherwise fast paced action choreography that we’ve seen throughout the movie. Mission Impossible 7 calls back to older instalments of the franchise with remakes of some of the most iconic fight sequences. The movie ensures that the music goes hand-in-hand with the on-screen action to further enhance the experience. Dead Reckoning has also added a twist to the signature Mission: Impossible theme to add more seriousness.

The supporting cast beautifully complements the talent and strength of the action hero, with Pom Klementieff standing out with her wicked death stare in the role of a cold-blooded assassin. Rebecca Ferguson reprises her franchise role as Ilsa Faust and holds her own, despite having limited screen time. Hayley Atwell’s addition is a welcome one, especially considering the looming question of whether the Mission: Impossible franchise is wrapping up. We can’t help but wonder if it’s time for a new addition to the Impossible Mission Force. Atwell portrays the nimble-fingered thief Grace, who inevitably faces competition from Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).

The story of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

It is obvious that a Mission: Impossible film sets a high bar for action, fight sequences, and crazy stunts. Movie-goers expect nothing less, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One certainly delivers on that front. However, when it comes to the story, Dead Reckoning Part One falls short with numerous plot holes. Although I understand that I am supposed to overlook them in a popcorn flick, these plot holes ended up bothering me because they wasted the incredible effort and talent needed to create the film, including Cruise’s.

The film primarily revolves around a new AI threat known as The Entity, which is all encompassing. The stakes are high as various parties compete for control over it, and the key to accessing The Entity is quite literally a key that has been split into two parts. People are on the run, striving to gain possession of these key fragments. However, the chase for the key felt excessively drawn out, especially because of repeated instances where our heroes had it in their possession, only to let it slip away.

The Entity remains unexplored in the first part, which is understandable as there is a second part on the horizon. However, what is disappointing is the lack of full exploration for any of the antagonists or the various parties involved in the quest for the key, including those pursuing Hunt himself. While I loved Klementieff’s presence, I wanted a deeper dive into her character backstory, assuming she ever got a respite from her running people over or breaking necks, that is.

It is worth noting that the filmmakers made attempts in this regard but fell short. The same can be said for characters portrayed by Esai Morales, who represents an enemy from Ethan’s past, as well as Shea Wingham and Greg Tarzan Davis. Apart from Morales, they all come across as mere decorations, primarily serving to highlight the strengths of the film: its action sequences and Tom Cruise running or driving. If not for the action-packed content that Dead Reckoning Part One delivers, the story alone lacks the necessary thrill to keep audiences hooked until the end given its notably lengthy runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Even as a spy film, I feel that the emotional depth of the story would only accentuate the stakes of the action, just as it did in Top Gun: Maverick. However, that’s not to say that Dead Reckoning Part One should be overlooked in cinemas. After all, how often do we encounter films that genuinely keep us on the edge of our seats, biting our nails? It’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed.