Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Dead Reckoning Part One, is the seventh in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Its title already pre-announces an eighth instalment and hints at a cliffhanger ending, and its running time (close to three hours) promises unadulterated indulgence in action sequences.

The premise of the plot is the same as in most other films of the genre: an entity threatens to destroy the world and only the protagonist can intervene. In this case, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), the agent of the Impossible Mission Force who is called upon to solve the most complicated cases, must prevent a mysterious key-shaped device that could potentially control every corner of cyberspace from ending up in the wrong hands. This quest becomes a pretext for endless car chases, impressive stunts, violent encounters with armed enemies and, as is often the case in such films, there is also a bomb that needs to be defused within a very tight timeframe. In short, there is every single element you’d expect.

While it is in many ways an action-film-by-numbers, the latest Mission: Impossible does what it sets out to do with great flair and a solid understanding of what keeps an audience engaged. Reminiscent of the Bond movies of recent years, it uses breathtaking locations and a strong cast to elevate a generic plot and all-too-familiar scenarios. Tom Cruise is, as ever, fully comfortable and confident as the action hero, and his famous daredevil stunts certainly add an edge, leaving the audience utterly captivated. The supporting cast is a balanced mix of personalities, with Simon Pegg providing some subtle humour, Ving Rhames as the trusted longtime companion, Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby reprising their roles, Hayley Atwell as a cheeky serial lawbreaker, and Esai Morales as the ruthless enemy Gabriel.

In spite of its limitations, Dead Reckoning Part One is a thrilling ride that can easily be enjoyed even by members of the audience who may be sceptical in regard to the MI franchise. Whether the film will be remembered in its own right rather than blur into the blended memory of most of its predecessors, is another matter.

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is released nationwide on 10^th July 2023. Watch our interviews on the red carpet here.

Watch the trailer for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One here: