Tom Cruise Stuns with Jaw-Dropping Stunts but Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Lacks Strong Storyline
Tom Cruise returns in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, proving once again that age is just a number when it comes to doing the impossible. At 62, Cruise continues to redefine action cinema with stunts that defy belief and endurance that mocks anyone who thinks about skipping leg day. However, while the adrenaline-pumping action and stunning visuals deliver on expectations, the film stumbles where it matters most—storytelling.
The film picks up two months after the events of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023). Ethan Hunt, played by Cruise, is back on a globe-trotting mission to stop Gabriel (Esai Morales) from gaining control of The Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence with the potential to upend the world order. Hunt is joined by familiar faces and new allies, including Grace (Hayley Atwell), tech experts Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), the deadly but betrayed Paris (Pom Klementieff), and CIA operative Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis). Their collective goal: to track and destroy a threat that appears to be two steps ahead at all times.
Despite its ambitious premise, The Final Reckoning suffers from a lack of coherence in its screenplay. While The Entity’s concept as an omniscient AI villain is timely and terrifying, the execution falls flat. At one point, the AI even presents Ethan with a vision of the future—a literal blueprint of its own defeat—and yet takes no action to stop him. This gaping plot hole undermines the tension and raises questions about the film’s internal logic. Moreover, the predictability of the outcome—Ethan and his team inevitably saving the day—diminishes the stakes. The grand illusion of danger is present, but the audience knows better.
Esai Morales, though menacing in parts, fails to rise to the iconic status required of an ultimate nemesis in a franchise of this scale. His Gabriel lacks the gravitas and charisma to match Ethan Hunt’s legendary legacy, leaving fans yearning for a villain of true substance. The film teases deeper philosophical themes about technological manipulation, digital realities, and our growing reliance on AI, but never commits to exploring them fully. What could have bordered on science fiction greatness ends up as a missed opportunity, with hints of Terminator-like dystopia buried beneath action-packed chaos.
Where the film truly excels is in its technical mastery. Shot across breathtaking real-world locations, including the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, The Final Reckoning offers some of the most visually arresting scenes in the franchise’s history. Cinematographer Fraser Taggart outdoes himself with sequences that include Ethan’s plunge into the icy Bering Sea, claustrophobic underwater escapes, and plane-to-plane jumps that feel more real than CGI can ever replicate. The VFX and production design teams have crafted immersive, detail-rich environments—from underground tunnels beneath London’s Trafalgar Square to a hidden nuclear facility in Africa—that make the viewing experience larger than life.
The stunt work, coordinated by Wade Eastwood, is nothing short of legendary. Cruise performs the majority of these jaw-dropping feats himself, putting his life on the line in pursuit of authenticity. Whether it’s deep-sea diving without sufficient gear, running from a nuclear explosion, or executing multiple parachute jumps, Cruise shows a level of dedication that borders on madness. It’s a high-octane spectacle that earns respect from action enthusiasts and professionals alike, with every movement meticulously calculated and executed to perfection.
And yet, as thrilling as these sequences are, they can’t compensate for the lack of a strong narrative. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning feels more like an extended setup than a conclusive farewell. With Ethan now supported by a fully formed team, the movie suggests continuity rather than closure. This is frustrating for long-time fans who have followed the franchise since its 1996 inception. The film was marketed as a sendoff, but it ends with doors wide open, almost hesitant to let go of a character and universe so beloved.
In conclusion, while Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning dazzles with its awe-inspiring stunts, masterful cinematography, and Tom Cruise’s unwavering commitment, it falls short in delivering a memorable narrative or a satisfying conclusion. The film is a must-watch in IMAX to appreciate its scale and technical finesse, but leaves viewers yearning for a tighter, more impactful story. As fans hold out hope for a more definitive ending, perhaps one final mission—Mission: Impossible: Redemption—can deliver the closure this epic saga truly deserves.
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