Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningpromises to conclude the story started by 2023’s nowamusingly titledDead Reckoning Part Oneand possibly the franchise as a whole, or at least its current,Tom Cruise-centric iteration. But regardless of how successful the eighth entry proves to be, some fans of the series can’t help but wonder if it would have been better off ending a few movies earlier. Although it’s always exciting to see what new surprises Cruise, writer-directorChristopher McQuarrie, and the rest of the team have in store, the sixth film in the series,Mission: Impossible - Fallout,still feels like a natural, extremely satisfying endpointfor Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and the rest of the series’ key cast members.
‘Fallout’ Builds on the Previous Mission: Impossible Films
Falloutsees Ethan and company racing to foil a terrorist plot involving nuclear weapons hatched by their old enemy, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), and the mysterious John Lark, who is ultimately revealed to be corrupt CIA agent August Walker (Henry Cavill). The main reason the film could have served as the series’ conclusion is that it actually does end its longest-running, most significant storyline, while also drawing from and continuing others. Ethan is surprised early on in the film when he is reunited with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a former MI6 agent who helped him defeat Lane in the proceeding entry,Rogue Nation. Although both are clearly happy to see one another, Ilsa’s mysterious new mission puts them at odds, and she also has hurt feelings from Ethan turning down an offer she made to run away together inRogue Nation.Matters become even more complicated when it’s revealed thatLane hopes to kill Julia Meade(Michelle Monaghan), Ethan’s wife, during his apocalyptic attack.
The series had focused on Ethan’s struggle to balance his espionage work for the Impossible Mission Force and a “normal” life with Julia since the latter’s introduction inMission: Impossible III. After being kidnapped twice and beginning to feel that she and Ethan were responsible for the disasters that occurred while he was with her rather than working, she went into hiding and the pair mostly lost touch, although she would regularly signal that she was safe to keep his spirits up. Julia then remarries and begins doing traveling medical work. After Ethan and his team defeat Lane and Lark,Julia reassures Ethan that she is happyin her new life and feels safe knowing that he is still working to protect the world.Ethan then reunites with Ilsa and his teammates, with the implications being that they will continue to work together and that he and Ilsa will start a romantic relationship.
Ethan ultimately dedicating himself solely to the spy side of his life is somewhat bittersweet, but there’s enough love between him, Ilsa, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) that the conclusion is still mostly uplifting, especially given that Julia ends up content as well.This is whyIlsa’s subsequent deathinDead Reckoningis more frustrating than properly tragic, as it reduces the significance ofFallout’s hard-earned ending and shows a lack of creativity, with the filmmaking team shrinking away from the narrative challenge of continuing Ethan’s story while maintaining and developing the happy romantic and found family dynamics.
The Latest Mission: Impossible Films Have Too Many Characters
Ilsa’s death leads Grace (Hayley Atwell), a thief introduced inDead Reckoning, to assume the role of female lead, with the character ultimately choosing to permanently join the IMF. But this unfortunately highlights a problem with the seventh entry that looks like it may continue, or even be exacerbated, inThe Final Reckoning. While Atwell and some of the other actors playing new characters inDead Reckoning, especiallyShea Whigham, turn in strong performances, there are simply too many of them. As is always the case, Ethan/Cruise are firmly at the center ofDead Reckoning, but the complexities of the plot and the sheer number of new figures that need to be introduced and servicedresult in Benji, Luther, and Ilsa being far less prominent and well-developed than one would hope forin one of the series’ last entries, especially if Ilsa’s death is not undone.
While the AI Entity is sufficiently unsettling, its human ally, Gabriel (Esai Morales), does not come across as dangerous enough to pose a believable threat to Ethan and company after all they’ve been through, with the quality of his role contrasting sharply with the villains ofFallout. Ethan unknowingly working with Lark for a significant portion ofFalloutcreated an interesting dynamic, and Cavill brings a physicality to the role similar to Cruise’s, and Lane’s return appearance (which was the first instance of a series villain making one) adds to the sense of finality in that film. The allusions to a tragic backstory involving Ethan and Gabriel that predates the former’s induction into the IMF were also an unnecessary, unconvincing addition toDead Reckoning, given how long viewers had already been following the former. WithThe Final Reckoningnow having to flesh out that history and introducing even more major characters and actors,it’s even less likely that the film will be able to give Ethan and the other long-running characters satisfying conclusions.
While what one considers to be the best Mission stunts and action scenes comes down mostly to personal taste, it’s undeniable thatFalloutnails these aspects, with the sixth film featuring the greatest variety of iconic set pieces in the series, including the HALO jump, bathroom fight, the final helicopter chase, and more. The combination of these sequences and the emotional, cathartic narrative makesFalloutone of the great films of the last decade, and whileearly reviews suggest thatThe Final Reckoningwill be successful,over time, the earlier film will likely remain the most revered in the series, especially to die-hard fans.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
