After nearly 30 years of death-defying stunts and Tom Cruise running, one of the most iconic action spy franchises has come to a close with The Final Reckoning. This Mission: Impossible swan song follows Ethan Hunt on one final mission to put a stop to the rogue AI wreaking havoc on the world.
M:I – Dead Reckoning is the best film in the franchise, so following it was always going to be a tough task. While Final Reckoning doesn’t quite hit the consistent highs of that film, it has one big advantage by being the franchise’s finale – it can leverage nostalgia to heighten the suspense and emotion like no regular entry can. Christopher McQuarrie has leant fully into the fact that this is the end by dipping into the franchise’s earlier entries, creating surprising narrative connections and hitting those nostalgia notes wherever possible. In most cases, the overuse of flashback montages as “member berries” isn’t my favourite creative choice, but if any film has earned the right it’s this one. In the film’s opening, these flashbacks are used to set the tone and have the audience understand the weight of what they’re about to watch. Meanwhile the flashbacks throughout the film are moreso to remind people of characters or plot beats that may have been forgotten in the last 20+ years. Basically every time they use an extensive flashback it has a purpose and is worthwhile in enhancing the story being told.
Speaking of the narrative, it makes sense why they abandoned the “part two” subtitle as while this story is a direct continuation of the last, it stands on its own as a complete journey from start to finish. The Mission: Impossible formula has always been focused on offering a fast-paced story that doesn’t stop moving, and that’s once again the modus operandi here. The word “boring” doesn’t exist when describing M:I – it’s a spy thriller of the purest form where every beat feels like you’re racing against the clock. The stakes are set very early, hooking you into the narrative immediately and communicating the extent of the apocalypse-level threat the characters are facing. With those high stakes threatening the wellbeing of characters we know and love, it creates this gripping tension that remains unbroken from beginning to end. Every moment for these characters feels like it’s do or die, and that translates to the audience as the entire movie is watched from the edge of your seat. I was locked in and felt wholly invested in Ethan Hunt’s death-defying mission. Time flies and there’s never a moment to check your watch as before you know it, it’s done.
While action is certainly at the forefront, this story is actually quite emotionally charged given it’s the final film. These are characters we’ve spent a tonne of time following across eight years, so it’s sad to see it all come to a close. In a way this not only feels like an end to the franchise but also a love letter to the fans and everyone who has supported the films. McQuarrie and Cruise care about the franchise and have poured everything into ensuring this ending is as impactful as it deserves. It’s a satisfying conclusion that fans are sure to love.
Tom Cruise is known for giving each film a wild stunt set-piece to base its marketing around. The Final Reckoning doesn’t quite have one stunt big enough to stand on its own, but it compensates by moving through multiple high-octane sequences that blend into one big, long action extravaganza. While not particularly a stunt, there is one extended sequence that is… to put it simply… fucking incredible. There’s an underwater submarine sequence that had my heart in my mouth and left me entirely speechless. I caught myself holding my breathe like I was in the movie due to how visceral it is. Much like the rest of the film, all sense of time went out the window – the sequence might have only been 15-20 minutes or it might’ve been 40 minutes. I have no clue because it’s such a masterclass of creating and then maintaining tension. Outside of that sequence, there’s chases and gunfights aplenty that go from land to sky and it’s just as exciting as Mission: Impossible has ever been.
The ensemble of this franchise has always been a great mix of personalities that exhibit electric chemistry and feel like a functional team. The banter between Ethan, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) is one of the many reasons to keep returning to the franchise, and those relationships are strong as ever in here. Despite all of the climactic chaos going down, the writers have found a way for every member of the team to have an important role in the narrative. No one is forgotten or cast to the wayside – as the team grows, everyone receives ample screen time to make an impact. This is relevant for all characters minus one. Shea Whigham’s Briggs has a random and unexpected subplot that really doesn’t hit. It’s a small moment with only a few minutes dedicated to it, but it felt abysmally out of place. It doesn’t have any impact on the story and came across as an afterthought. It’s such a small beat though that it’s not a huge blight on the film.
Ethan Hunt is undoubtedly Tom Cruise’s best role and his performance here is a perfect example of that. Much like every other franchise entry, he brings his A-game and enhances each and every scene. Whether he’s acting alongside his crew or simply running into the distance, he brings an energy to the film that no one else can. Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames each continue to have their finger on the pulse of their respective characters. Atwell specifically shines brightest in the ensemble – her introduction is a fun moment and she continues to elevate the heart, drama and fun throughout. Of the newcomers, Janet McTeer and Tramell Tillman have minor roles but make a memorable impact in a limited amount of time.
In the end, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a fitting conclusion for what is a fantastic spy thriller franchise. This film is a love letter to fans of the franchise, bringing Ethan Hunt’s journey full circle in a way that’s fun and full of tension. It’s jam-packed with impressive stunts and suspense-drenched sequences that will get the heart rate pumping. Tom Cruise’s dedication to cinema is one of the many factors that makes this a must-see thrill ride for any fans of M:I. With a conclusion that honours 30 years of history, this is one of the most rewarding action experiences of the year.
9.3/10
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