‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1’ Movie Review

One of the biggest blockbusters of the summer has arrived. Mission: Impossible 7 is here, and Tom Cruise is back in action with some of his most impressive stunts to date. So how does the film hold up to the rest of the MI franchise? To put it short, this one was a bumpy ride for yours truly.

But let’s set the stage before diving into details. In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, Tom Cruise returns as the indomitable Ethan Hunt and his IMF team face their gravest challenge to date. Their mission: to prevent a catastrophic new weapon from falling into nefarious hands, posing an existential threat to humanity.

As the stakes soar and ominous figures from Ethan’s past loom ever closer, a harrowing global pursuit ensues. With the future hanging in the balance and an enigmatic, omnipotent adversary in their path, Ethan realizes that his mission may eclipse even the lives of his closest allies.

Check out the trailer below.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 Movie Trailer

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 Movie Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

As I sit down to type out this review, I’m baffled by the fact that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 currently boasts a staggering 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. I find myself questioning whether the Church of Scientology has generously greased the palms of every critic out there or if perhaps I unknowingly stumbled upon an alternate version of the film.

Apparently, my thoughts diverge from the majority, as most critics are not shy in showering their praise on this one. But your girl here isn’t going to be one of those critics. In a nutshell, the film’s dialogue left much to be desired, and the script suffered from overacting. However, credit must be given where it’s due—the action sequences did manage to impress.

Story

My biggest problem with this film was the script, particularly the dialogue, which at times was downright painful. It reached a point where my fellow Atlanta critics and I found ourselves chuckling at moments that were not intended to be humorous. This was either due to the dialogue being exceptionally poor or the actors delivering it in an exaggerated manner. Consequently, I struggled to fully invest myself in the story, despite the awe-inspiring magnitude of the incredible stunt work.

Acting

While I may not consider myself a die-hard fan of Tom Cruise, I cannot deny his brilliance as an actor. There’s a certain captivating quality to his performances that makes it effortless to lose oneself in his characters. His commitment to each role is unwavering, causing his celebrity status to fade away, leaving only the essence of the character behind.

Unfortunately, that transformative magic seems to have eluded him in this particular film. Cruise delivers an intense performance, which might have been justifiable if the material he was given matched his caliber. Despite the colossal sums presumably spent on stunts (and undoubtedly the insurance to safeguard Cruise while performing them), his sheer dedication cannot compensate for the shortcomings of the lackluster script. It almost feels as if he tries to compensate for the script’s flaws by amping up his intensity, but even that can’t salvage the overall impact.

The same sentiment extends to his talented co-stars, Hayley Atwell and Rebecca Ferguson. Both actresses possess immense skill, yet even their formidable talent fails to elevate this script to a “meh” level for me.

Overall

I realize I’m in a minority here. While most critics are showering this film with praise, I can’t help but yearn for something more. Sure, if you step into the theater anticipating nothing more than an action-packed extravaganza, you’ll likely have your expectations fulfilled.

But for me, I wanted more than an action movie that delivered thrilling action. I also wanted a smart script that could transport me into a realm where the big screen swallowed me whole, leaving me utterly immersed in an unforgettable summer blockbuster. That was not this movie.

In summary, while the action sequences in this film were undeniably remarkable, if I were to choose a Tom Cruise movie to revisit, I would opt for Top Gun: Maverick. It’s a far better action flick.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 Movie Review

Grade: C

Note: FanBolt’s Featured Image is fan art created by FanBolt purely for the love of design and fan culture. (We’re movie and design nerds). The property and fandom inspire the artwork, and no infringement is/was intended. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 is the property of Paramount Pictures.