‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Review

Tom Cruise continuing to choose to do his own larger-than-life stunts already makes Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One worth experiencing on the biggest screen possible starting July 12, but what will really draw moviegoers into this seventh installment of the action-packed film franchise is the thoughtful evolution of this fictional universe, where familiar characters like Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, as well as fresh faces on the scene, make this the thrill ride of the summer.

With its ever-expanding cinematic narrative that now spans 27 years since the first Mission: Impossible arrived in theaters, Dead Reckoning Part One finds Hunt and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team striving to track down a terrifying new weapon that could forever change humanity and alter the world order as we know it, if put into the wrong hands.

Even as Cruise’s Hunt remains the central protagonist character, it is the film’s supporting cast of characters that further enhance its well-layered storytelling, as they collectively play an integral part in blurring the line between good and evil.

Returning to Hunt’s IMF is Luther Stickell, played by Ving Rhames, who has been a part of Mission: Impossible with Cruise since the very beginning. Benji Dunn is back, played by Simon Pegg, who continues to bring much of the comic relief to these films. Last but definitely least, Ilsa Faust returns for another unpredictable mission, played by the always enchanting Rebecca Ferguson, who continues to command every scene that she is in with her passionate and gritty performance.

Another returning player is the calculating businesswoman Alanna Mitsopolis, also known as The White Widow, played once again by the captivating Vanessa Kirby, who masterfully embodies the many sides expected of her character in this latest Mission: Impossible.

Eugene Kittridge is back, looking to take control over another one of Hunt’s missions. Played by Henry Czerny for nearly 30 years, the intense verbal exchanges between IMF boss Kittridge and Hunt feel enjoyably nostalgic, yet surprisingly still very fresh, every time these two cross paths.

A standout performance in Dead Reckoning Part One goes without question to Hayley Atwell, who is introduced into this Mission: Impossible universe as Grace, a somewhat small-time thief who gets caught up in Hunt’s world of elaborate car chases, painful fight scenes and other unforeseen dangers. What Atwell does best in this new installment is she rejuvenates the franchise with her character’s clever abilities, without shying around from showing her vulnerability and a fear of mortality in these wildly unusual situations.

Both Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff bring an exciting level of sophistication and ruthlessness to their antagonistic characters Gabriel and Paris in Dead Reckoning Part One, showcasing a more human sense to their villainous ways, which ultimately makes their life-and-death choices throughout the film that much more intriguing.

One of the most fascinating parts of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is that it features timely parallels to our real world. The modern weapon in this film feels rather similar to the ongoing hot topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) being used within our society today. The thought that an untouchable machine of sorts can somehow directly connect to, control or at least manipulate our everyday lives makes this film quite the cautionary tale.

Due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, this Mission: Impossible filmmaking experience, with its whopping budget of approximately $290 million, had its own rollercoaster of events off-screen over the past three years. In February 2020, early filming in Italy was shut down at the start of the pandemic until later that year. Fast forward to June 2021 when the production had to temporarily shut down again, due to positive Covid-19 test results on-set. Despite the setbacks Dead Reckoning Part One faced during the unprecedented time in our world, Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie and their filmmaking team managed to make what seemed for a while to be an impossible mission possible, on and off the screen.

Bottom line, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is sleek, heart-pounding and incredibly grand in scale. Even after six previous films, its gripping storyline and on-screen performances remain as strong as ever, with fortunately more to come.