By: Hunter Montroy

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Written by: Christopher McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen

Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Tramell Tillman

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is one hell of a ride. It’s bound to change since we aren’t even halfway through the year, but The Final Reckoning is by far my favorite film of the year. The entire film is one massive, grand spectacle that demands viewing on the big screen, specifically an IMAX screen, so you can fully experience the grandiose powerhouse that Cruise and company have crafted. I emphasize this because outside of a theatrical setting, I believe it becomes a very different movie.

Tom Cruise is THE movie guy. Cruise operates in his own tier when it comes to being an actor/producer because no one in the industry comes close to his heights. Watching him command the big screen over these past few years has been extraordinary and rewarding every time. When it’s a Tom Cruise production, he puts a capital “B” in Blockbuster, ensuring audiences get every penny’s worth with his daring stunt work that culminates in some of the most thrilling moments you’ll experience in a theater.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is pure amazement from start to finish. The film is pretty much top-notch throughout, but oh my god—the sets and set designs are outstanding. The submarine sequence, where Ethan Hunt boards later in the film, looks incredibly good, partially filled with water and rotating. It’s simply exceptional.

Additionally, the plane stunt—featured prominently in the film’s advertising—is one hell of a thrill. If this had been any other lead actor, I might say this sequence felt a bit too long, but with Cruise performing his own stunts, I simply couldn’t get enough, knowing he was literally hanging on and thrashing around the plane.

Having been spoiled with car chases in Fallout and Dead Reckoning, I was admittedly hoping for another exciting chase here, which unfortunately doesn’t quite happen. Nevertheless, the film more than makes up for it overall.

The Final Reckoning clocks in at 2 hours and 50 minutes, but I didn’t feel it at all. There’s rarely a moment lacking ambition or intensity. Even if the film had been 30 minutes longer, I doubt I would have noticed, as it moves fluidly right up to the rolling credits. Reflecting on it, The Final Reckoning is somewhat all over the place—but in the best way possible. So much is happening that I felt genuine stress considering everything the characters needed to accomplish. The script almost feels too ambitious for its runtime, possibly needing an extra half-hour just to let itself breathe. Sitting in IMAX, I experienced anxiety reminiscent of watching Uncut Gems years ago.

The Final Reckoning continues its streak of excellent casting choices. They truly nail it with each actor they bring in, as everyone gets their chance to steal scenes. It would be impossible not to mention Tramell Tillman, as he was the standout during my screening, and frankly, he’s simply that good. It’s hard not to like the guy. Shea Whigham also returns, a bit less featured than in Dead Reckoning, but always great to see. Hayley Atwell receives significant attention in this film, and deservedly so, as she delivers a compelling performance.

The one aspect of The Final Reckoning I didn’t feel as strongly compared to other Mission: Impossible films was the gravitas. The film repeatedly tries to establish The Entity as an enormous threat poised to destroy the world, but it doesn’t quite have the same nail-biting villainy as past antagonists. The biggest threats for me were the immediate dangers Ethan Hunt and his team faced, alongside geopolitical tensions between global superpowers like Russia and the United States. Each mention of The Entity reminded me, “Oh yeah, that’s supposed to be the big villain, not necessarily Gabriel.” That’s my only major critique of The Final Reckoning: by the end, I didn’t feel the immense relief of crisis averted typical of previous installments.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is fantastic. It truly rules, and my god, what an incredible franchise spanning 29 years. Each film feels unique, and there isn’t one I dislike. I hope someday I’ll get to experience many of the earlier films on the big screen, but regarding The Final Reckoning—absolutely go see it on the biggest screen possible while you can.

Final Score: 4.5/5