ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Forgive our headline’s “The Fast and the Furious” allusion. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is undeniably a “Mission: Impossible” film, a franchise which has established itself as the premiere action franchise of the 21st century, even if its final installment falls short of the series’ best efforts.
“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING” (2025, 170 min., directed by Christopher McQuarrie)
“Mission: Impossible” has always been a self-aware franchise. Nearly every entry has a sense of humor about its core premise – the spy organization, for instance, is called the “Impossible Mission Force,” which these movies know is inherently goofy – while maintaining an earnest commitment to character and a constant escalation of their signature jaw-dropping action set pieces.
Tom Cruise was at the vanguard of that tonal balance for seven consecutive films. He lost it with number eight.
All “M:I” movies are marketed on the insane stunt work Cruise pulls off, but these stories are successful in large part because of the sincere characterization Cruise instills in Ethan Hunt, his super spy protagonist. Despite the series’ rogues gallery of auteurist directors, Brian de Palma, John Woo, J. J. Abrams, Brad Bird and Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise maintained a constant through-line of kindness and capability in Ethan’s character. Cruise, as both movie star and stuntman, ensured that the “M:I” movies were as sincere as they are stunning.
It’s so frustrating that “The Final Reckoning,” presented as the endgame to nearly 30 years of “Mission: Impossible,” falters at that critical juncture. Instead of the trademark “M:I” self-awareness, “The Final Reckoning” plays as incredibly self-conscious.
The movie opens with a sizzle reel of every major stunt from previous “M:I” films, which is an indulgence, but an understandable gesture toward finality. However, while flashbacks of previous entries — and previous scenes — continue to pepper the film, the celebratory attitude of the opening montage is nowhere to be found.
“The Final Reckoning” is dark, serious and wrought with pained grimaces and hard decisions. The humor of every other entry is absent from the eighth installment, which is a tough beat for a movie nearly three hours long.
In place of levity, there are many, many scenes of black-suited government officials debating the dubious plot mechanics of nuclear annihilation by way of The Entity, a sentient evil AI. When we aren’t with Angela Bassett’s President and her cabinet, the movie is tracking the many, many MacGuffins that Ethan and his IMF team must gather to defeat the AI menace. “M:I” movies are not strangers to nuclear threats or world-ending stakes, but they have never before been so dull and dour in dealing with them.
It’s the fault of the script, not the cast.
Take the case of the wonderful Hayley Atwell.
Atwell was the series newcomer of the seventh entry, “Dead Reckoning,” which this film was originally envisioned as a sequel to. In that film, her chemistry with Cruise is madcap and screwball, a fun, flirty dynamic added to the action. During one particularly memorable sequence, the stars are literally handcuffed together, equally responsible for carrying the film. “Dead Reckoning” was a two-hander in the best way. While Atwell receives second billing in “The Final Reckoning,” the film ties one hand behind its back with her stymied screen time, limited lines and separation from Cruise for much of the runtime.
These films are ensembles for a reason. Cruise is their centerpiece, but he needs his supporting cast like Ethan needs his team. “The Final Reckoning” largely has Cruise going it alone.
The good news is that when Cruise is alone, he’s off executing the craziest stunts I’ve ever seen on the silver screen.
Cruise has two major stunt set pieces in “The Final Reckoning”: one underwater inside of a rolling submarine and one in the air suspended from two wheeling biplanes. They are extensive, miraculous and utterly real. They are absolutely worth the price of admission. They feel as impossible as the title promised.
It’s just a shame that the stunts are only one half of what made these movies so special.
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” may be the final time we see Tom Cruise as death-defying stuntman Ethan Hunt. However, these films have already left the lovable, funny, charismatic version of that character behind. He died with “Dead Reckoning.”
Rating: 2/5
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