Mission: Impossible – Fallout (English) Review {3.5/5} & Review Rating
Making a sequel to a highly successful film isn’t an easy task, leave alone making the sixth instalment in a franchise that has since its introduction back in 1996 developed a fan following across the globe. But this week we see exactly that with the release of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT. Marking the return of Tom Cruise to the legendary character of Ethan Hunt, after the highly forgettable THE MUMMY, the film comes with tremendous hype. But will the new film live up to the legend of old, or will it like the previous film in the series leave fans disappointed is what we analyse.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT begins with Ethan Hunt on a mission to impersonate an arms dealer in an attempt to recover three nuclear cores. However, the deal goes south with Hunt finding himself caught between choosing the life of one of his team members and acquiring the cores. Putting his team’s value above everything else, Hunt saves Luther’s life but in the process loses the cores. After this IMF mission ends badly and Solomon Lane escapes custody, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to fulfil his original briefing, the CIA begins to question his loyalty and his motives. Hunt finds himself in a race against time, hunted by assassins and former allies while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.
Starting off, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT marks Christopher McQuarrie’s second directorial outing in the franchise, the first being the rather forgettable MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION. However, unlike the previous film in the series, with FALLOUT, McQuarrie has done a commendable job of harkening the new flick to the first three in the series. From high octane bike chase sequences, to the cliff hanging thrill of free had rock climbing the FALLOUT features quite a few sequences that remind viewers of the first three films. Well executed and deftly shot, the film makes for a rather thrilling adrenaline pumping right.
Sadly though, FALLOUT has a rather flimsy story line. With a wafer thin plot and multiple utterances of the catch phrase, “I’ll figure it out” the film comes across as a project that did not really have a bound script. In fact, more often than not, the on screen progression comes across as ad hock performances strung together to make a whole.
Coming to the performances, Tom Cruise has since become the main stay of the MI series. And with the new film, it isn’t much different, Cruise does well in his given role as the super agent that never was, while still retaining the charm and charisma from the previous films. Since the film focuses mainly on his character, the others viz. Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Michelle Monaghan and Alec Baldwin find themselves relegated to supporting roles. While most of them have performed well, Sean Harris as Solomon Lane makes an impact. Playing the rogue agent who has since setup his own organisation, Harris imbues his character with a fierce menace and maniacal rage that chills. On the other hand, Henry Cavill as August Walker is plain pointless. Though the character has multiple arches both emotionally and mentally, Cavill just seems like a misfit.
However, it isn’t performances or story that is the main stay of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT, instead it is the action. Well-choreographed and executed marvellously, the film makes of an engaging watch. Though it doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat, it has enough elements to get the adrenaline pumping. With high altitude helicopter chase sequences to high speed bike chase scenes, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT features some of the grandest stunts that exist in the series.
On the whole, with only action going for the film, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT does make for a decent watch for the MI fans who enjoy action films. At the Indian box office, with previous Bollywood releases fading away, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT that sees a wide release in multiple languages, looks set to enjoy a good opening weekend.
