After returning from a long vacation, I found myself with a little bit of free time. At the end of the block was a marker for a movie theater. Film review headlines were swirling through my head and the biggest one on marquee (and the one starting the soonest) was Mission: Impossible: Fallout, a series I often skipped in the theater. The last one I happened to catch featured the vocal tones of Fred Durst and his band of Limp Bizkit’s playing over Tom Cruise riding a motorcycle on some desert-like geography. I remember thinking favorably of the film, and still do, but it was about then, the early 2000’s, when I just could no longer tolerate Tom Cruise and any project he was a part of. I was too young to have a political or social reason for disliking him, it just came about naturally. Still, I was compelled to sit through his latest adventure as Ethan Hunt by claims of epic cinema redefining stunt work despite a lapse of attendance from the previous two missions undertaken. It could have been dangerous, going into a theater with the threat of boredom, unfounded plot twists, undeserved conclusions, but it was my choice, my sunday, my mission, and I chose to accept it.

I was, in the simplest terms, surprised. A step further, the surprises mostly left an unpalatable taste, similar to taking a bite into a gourmet sandwich only to find it also includes your least favorite jarlsberg. Number one on my list was the initial presentation of the film. The title-card sequence included a short, trailer-esq cut of every major action set piece in the movie, presenting the milk before the cow. Why do I need to get pumped for a movie you already sold me? This always feels cheap to me and tells me that the rest of the film might lack imagination. The second observation becomes clearer throughout the film. The viewer becomes aware that the film and its characters appear aware of the fact that you are watching. It is tiring to watch the characters react to or explain the same old drill or tropes its predecessors pioneered. To quote Henry Cavill’s character (the hilariously named August Walker), “People fall for this?” It’s the classic wink-and-nod at the camera, which might be fine once, but it happens multiple times across multiple films. The first M:I starring Tom Cruise was a mystery-thriller, very different from any film that would come after it. The rest of the film series was trying to outdo its predecessor by taking the action sequences to higher heights, leaving any semblance of story behind on the ground floor. This film might be the worst offender in that regard, the story quick paced and highly improbable, but nonetheless churns out exciting excuses for a Cruise to show off his Jackie Chan, DIY stunts. And the camera will never let you forget that Cruise is the star.

Oddly, unlike the other world-trotting scenarios the other films showcase, Fallout feels oddly slimmed down. The camera is much more focused on the characters than the settings, rarely pulling out for big set-up shots. This intimate approach tied with a barebones cast makes the film feel very small, which again surprised me. I can’t really say this hurt the film, but the intimacy doesn’t add any depth to the characters, but instead is used to focus on stunts, jumps, punches, and crashes. The film does try to make you feel like Ethan Hunt has love in his heart and his primary motivation is to his friends and allies, but it really falls flat. I just can’t believe Tom Cruise loves anything. Or hates anything. He just looks like a joyless acting machine, especially in his later years. The cast overall still brings their best, despite having next to nothing important to say. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg play fun, wooden big brothers. Angela Bassett and Alec Baldwin are the divorced parents who also happen to run the CIA and IMF and use their kids as weapons against each other. Vanessa Kirby, Rebecca Ferguson, and Michelle Monaghan just round out the cast from femme fatale, lover, and ex-girlfriend. The story and cast end up being nothing more than vehicles for stunts.

This film delivers what it promises, amazing feats of skill and action. The camera does a great job of capturing every moment, and it is incredibly fun and imaginative. It kind of makes you wonder what new action this will inspire. But I almost wish the film would just jump cut to each action scene and skip all of the cheesy, unnecessary story. It has moments that might make you chuckle a little, but it really feels like anyone could have played these characters. The only actors that were able to flex their skills were Moose and Squale team, Cavill and Cruise. If you must see it, see it on the big screen. Otherwise, just wait for the next Fast and Furious film.

~* 6.5/10 *~