Review of Mission: Impossible II (2000) by Dean M — 09 Dec 2011

Most big-budget action sequels try hard to go all out and top their predecessors, and such is definitely the case with "Mission: Impossible 2". It's bigger, badder and flashier than the original picture, but it's also lacking a soul. It's full of amazing stunts, like the free-fall rock climbing opening, and other heart-pounding action sequences spectacularly filmed by action guru John Woo.

But, it fails in other key areas like giving us a reason to care about the glorious spectacle we are witnessing. The plot is overly complicated, almost needlessly so, and the cardinal sin of any action movie almost sinks this overstuffed picture: the villain is terribly bland. Dougray Scott's career never quite took off, and he blows a perfect opportunity to get on the A-list here with with a bland, forgettable performance. However, just the opposite is true of Thandie Newton who gives a true star-making turn here. She's vivacious, sexy and a lot of fun to watch.

Still, the biggest problem I had with the film is that the whole thing feels like a vanity project for star Tom Cruise. From his silly haircut to his ego-centrical performance, he's just a little too much to take. But Woo is a master of this type of filmmaking, and I can still recommend the picture based on the strength of the kinetic action and thrilling stunt-work. "Mission: Impossible 2" is a glossy, slam-bang piece of manufactured entertainment, but it's also the least successful film in the trilogy. It barely skates by.