Review of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) by Brett M — 09 Jan 2016

It's a slick, fast moving machine that never takes itself too seriously. Tom Cruise is on top form as he seemingly always is, even this far into his career he still performs incredible stunts and conjures up on-screen charisma like its nothing. Newcomer Rebecca Ferguson provides a solid screen presence and gives it her all, never going autopilot and letting Cruise (control) take over. Comedic relief is not given to one particular character, which would have been quite easy with an actor like Simon Pegg at your disposal. Instead, Alec Baldwin and Jeremy Renner get many chances to stretch their comedic muscles, and it doesn't need to be said that in the case of Baldwin this is always a good thing. Ving Rhames makes a brief appearance as Luther Stickell, although I was quite disappointed he wasn't utilised more. He is another actor with impressive comedic talent, as seen in his single-handed saving of Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead, and I think they perhaps could have had more of him instead of just having him there as a callback to the original films and giving him his paycheck and then pulling a disappearing act.

The action is inventive, intertwined with comedy, and performed with a kinetic energy that never runs out. Sean Harris as the villain doesn't do much outside of looking sinister, but he does that well enough. The story takes the much used "the IMF is being disbanded" plot device but tinkers with it enough to make it new. Its fun, its a 2 hour ride with characters you'll wish you were friends with, its sizzling entertainment at the movies.