Paramount Pictures, Skydance and TC Productions’ Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is the eighth and last instalment in the Mission: Impossible franchise and is a sequel to Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. An action spy film, it picks up two months after the events of Dead Reckoning (2023). IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) continues his mission to stop Gabriel (Esai Morales) from obtaining the AI program known as ‘The Entity’.
Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen have penned a story and screenplay, which involve the audience right from the word ‘go’. The first half is very verbose and has a lot of technical jargon thrown in, which makes it less interesting. However, the nostalgia value even in the first part of the film is so high that when scenes of the previous Mission: Impossible films are shown, the viewer’s heart dances with joy. The second half of the drama is so full of action and stunts that the thrill element goes to another level altogether. It is also very fast-paced. Two lengthy sequences in particular — the one in the ocean, and the other in air — are so breathtaking that the audience watch in rapt attention, almost mesmerised by the proceedings on the screen. The sequence in which a grievously injured and, therefore, sinking Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Paris (Pom Klementieff) are at work in the lab is mind-blowing. In fact, so outstanding is the entire drama in the second half that it more than makes up for the slight dips that one experiences in the interest level in the first half. There are so many nail-biting moments in the last one hour of the drama that it will prompt many among the public to repeat the film.
Tom Cruise once again shines as spy agent Ethan Hunt. His stunts are to die for and he essays the role so effortlessly that he will be remembered for this for years to come. Although age does show on his body, his charm is still intact. Hayley Atwell is excellent in the role of Grace. Ving Rhames makes his mark as Luther Stickell. Simon Pegg is superb as Benji Dunn. Pom Klementieff is wonderful as Paris. Esai Morales is menacing in the role of Gabriel. Greg Tarzan Davis makes his presence amply felt as Degas. Rolf Saxon is lovely as William Donloe. As his wife, Lucy Tulugarjuk is endearing. Henry Czerny leaves a fine impression as Eugene Kittridge. Angela Bassett is extraordinary as the American President. Mariela Garriga is nice as Marie. Pasha D. Lychnikoff (as Captain Koltsov), Holt McCallany (as the secretary of defence), Janet McTeer (as Walters), Nick Offerman (as General Sydney), Hannah Waddingham (as Admiral Neely), Shea Whigham (as Jasper Briggs), Charles Parnell (as Richards), Tommie Earl Jenkins (as Colonel Burdick), Katy O’Brian (as Kodiak), Mark Gatiss (as Angstrom), Trammel Tillman (as Captain Bledsoe), Stephen Oyoung and the others provide extraordinary support.
Christopher McQuarrie’s direction is outstanding. He has made the film brilliantly. Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey’s background music is par excellence. Fraser Taggart’s cinematography deserves full marks. Action and stunt scenes are out of the world. Gary Freeman’s production designing is of top standard. Eddie Hamilton’s editing is super-sharp. Dubbing is terrific.
On the whole, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a surefire hit. It will do tremendous business in Hindi as well as in English.
Released on 17-5-’25 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show), Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 5 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Star India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: excellent. Opening: superb. …….Also released all over. Opening was very good at most of the places. However, opening in Delhi-U.P. was not upto the mark at cinemas which could not start advance booking till late last evening or this morning owing to delayed settlement of terms between the exhibitors and the Delhi-U.P. distribution head.