MARCUS CHEONG watches the latest instalment in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise…
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (AU – M/UK – 12A/US – PG-13)
In a Word: Improbable
Tom Cruise performing yet another death-defying feat as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. PICTURE: Chiabella James/© 2018 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.
“The Mission: Impossible franchise has endured by blending its over-the-top action with a healthy dose of intrigue and plot twists. The best moments in the films have been the satisfying reveal of a clever plan to accomplish the IMF team’s impossible goals. Fallout falls short of its predecessors in this department, as it seems that Hunt is relying more on luck and guts than any skill or planning.”
Twenty-two years after Mission: Impossible was first rebooted for the big screen, Tom Cruise is back as super spy Ethan Hunt in the sixth installment in this action franchise.
The last two decades don’t appear to have slowed Cruise down at all and much hype has been made about the actor performing all the stunts personally. Fallout showcases Tom speeding on motorcycles, diving out of planes, leaping from buildings, hanging off cliffs, spinning up a helicopter and crashing to the ground – on more than one occasion. They are impressive feats and the danger is palpable, bringing a truly visceral experience to the screen.
Following the events of Rogue Nation, terrorist leader Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) is in captivity, but remnants of his syndicate continue to terrorise the world. Their latest threat, a batch of plutonium powered portable nuclear devices are poised to wreak destruction on the planet unleashing the titular fallout.
Hunt’s mission to stop the bombs sees him reuniting with Impossible Mission Force veterans Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg). But this time they are joined by CIA enforcer, August Walker (Henry Cavill of Superman fame). This team of super spies are also joined by two female leads from previous installments: love interest from Ghost Protocol, Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan), and MI6 double agent Lisa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) from Rogue Nation. CIA boss (Angela Bassett) and newly appointed IMF secretary (Alec Baldwin) round out the star-studded supporting cast – with support being the operative word. This so called team are often simply plot devices to set up the next big action sequence that showcases yet another death-defying stunt.
The Mission: Impossible franchise has endured by blending its over-the-top action with a healthy dose of intrigue and plot twists. The best moments in the films have been the satisfying reveal of a clever plan to accomplish the IMF team’s impossible goals. Fallout falls short of its predecessors in this department, as it seems that Hunt is relying more on luck and guts than any skill or planning.
At two-and-half hours, it is an equally exhilarating and exhausting experience. There are times when the story would be better served with some sharper dialogue rather than more action. What plot there is focuses on Hunt’s commitment to save the world without treating his teammates as expendable. The missions would be far more possible if sacrifice was acceptable, but Mission: Impossible is about one man’s conviction to save everyone.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout has all the necessary ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster – big stars, big budgets and big stunts and it certainly makes for an impressive trailer. The most impossible part of this recipe is how long can Cruise keep the franchise going at 56 years-of-age. So far, this star vehicle is showing that anything is possible with Cruise in control.
