Not only does "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" succumb to the annoying and, frankly, greedy practice of dividing a film into two parts, but it also exacerbates the situation with an excessive runtime of 164 minutes. Regrettably, this installment fills the prolonged duration with incessant dialogue, leaving much to be desired.
In the end, it all comes down to one question: how many leaps of faith are you willing to take for Tom Cruise? Especially after witnessing his latest feat—soaring through the air with a bike, leaping off a cliff, free-falling, and then skillfully deploying a parachute to land on a moving train. They say the ageless 61-year-old movie star performed the stunt himself, and it took him seven retakes to achieve satisfaction.
One thing is for certain: Cruise's determination cannot be faulted.
However, the same cannot be said for the seventh installment of Mission Impossible, which seems to be trying a bit too hard.
As if succumbing to the irritating and, frankly, greedy trend of splitting a film into two parts wasn't enough, and as if the daunting length of 164 minutes in this installment wasn't enough, Dead Reckoning fills the excess time with endless conversations. Most of these discussions revolve around the introduction and description of the super-villain known as "The Entity." Various characters take turns describing it as: a) a sentient A.I. program, b) a rogue agent, c) an omnipresent enemy with no center, d) the most formidable killing machine, e) a cosmic entity observing everyone, and f) well, you get the idea. Even without the concerns surrounding A.I., considering that this film was initiated before the pandemic, its release timing couldn't have been luckier. We already know what we are dealing with here, having been acquainted with similar concepts since Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Another recurring focus of Dead Reckoning is Ethan Hunt (Cruise) himself. The primary agent of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) is extensively discussed by several characters, often referred to as the "incarnation of chaos."
This time, the mission involves stopping or gaining control over the Entity, where the lines between good and bad blur in a world dominated by giant industrial military complexes (as referenced in the film). It's no surprise which side Ethan chooses.
Before he can achieve his objective, however, he must obtain a key divided into two parts. When combined, the key holds the source code to the Entity, granting its possessor power over the digital realm and, by extension, the world.
Ilsa (played by Ferguson), a former British MI6 agent and a romantic interest for Ethan, holds one half of the key. As for the other half, it's uncertain whether Grace (Atwell) possesses it. Given her skills as a thief, pickpocket, and counterfeiter, no one can be certain. Gabriel (Morales), a ghost from Ethan's past, keeps appearing in his path in a rather unwelcome manner. Hopefully, Gabriel's character will receive more depth in future installments, as for now, he mostly snarls and speaks cryptically about his own dealings with the Entity. Kirby reprises her role as arms agent White Widow but has limited screen time.
Ethan has his loyal comrades Benji (Pegg) and Luther (Rhames) by his side, working tirelessly with their computers and gadgets to make Ethan shine. While Ethan may shine, the same cannot be said for Cruise. Despite his remarkable fitness and agility, the actor's age is beginning to show on his face. The grand finale, featuring a train teetering over a steep river ravine, with its carriages tumbling one by one as Ethan and Grace scramble to reach the rear coaches while dodging falling furniture and kitchen supplies, is one of the most commendable action sequences in recent memory. The earlier car chase through Venice, involving a small Fiat and Ethan and Grace handcuffed together, also showcases ingenious tricks.
However, one wonders if acknowledging Cruise's advancing years could have added a genuine touch of appreciation to this ongoing admiration for his films.
But then again, that's just the way it is with Cruise. And this film contributes to the long-standing myth of what is possible—should you choose to accept it.
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