Review of Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) by Johnathon W — 28 Jul 2018

Exciting entry in the franchise that delivers some of the series best set pieces but once again lacks a deeper story and villain. Tom Cruise continues his intense run as Ethan Hunt, and allowed to give him some extra shades this time as he starts to question how far he is willing to go to win.

He gets great support from the rest of the cast, with new addition bringing nice physicality and menace as CIA operative, Walker (in a nice twist, Cruise let's Cavill even physically tower over him).

Behind the camera, Christopher McQuarrie crafts a slick, fast-paced thriller with some of the best action sequences of the series, from bathroom fights to the helicopter chase, made all the more brilliant by being done with practical effects, often with Tom Cruise front and center (seriously, this is proof the man is really crazy).

Unfortunately, McQuarrie's attempts to add more levels to the story, from Hunt's guilt over his past actions to how far someone should be willing to go to save the world, never pan out. It doesn't help most of the twists are predictable (you see the villain a mile away) and when the bad guys are revealed, they aren't that compelling (Sean Harris returns as Solomon Lane, but while still creepy, isn't given much to do).

Overall, still a fun and exciting action movie and one definitely worth seeing in IMAX (spend the extra few bucks if one is available) but still hasn't surpassed "MI 3".