‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ MovieMantz Review

Tom Cruise’s latest big screen “Mission” isn’t “Impossible”… it’s incredible says Access Hollywood’s Scott “Movie” Mantz.

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“This may very well be our last mission, Ethan. Make it count.”

That’s an ominous warning given by IMF (Impossible Missions Force) agent William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) to his ever-resourceful colleague Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in the fifth installment of the “Mission: Impossible” film series. But given how these movies have managed to keep topping themselves over the last 19 years since the first film debuted – and 49 years since the classic TV series on which it is based first premiered – Hunt has nothing to worry about.

Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson in ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ (Paramount)

That’s because “Rogue Nation” defies the impossible by topping its bar-raising predecessor, 2011’s “Ghost Protocol,” as the best of the series, which all but ensures that these entertaining missions will keep on coming for as long as Cruise and company choose to keep accepting them.

The fact that “Rogue Nation” triumphs as an action film with a tightly-plotted screenplay should not come as a surprise, since it was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who won an Oscar for writing 1995’s “The Usual Suspects” and has been on something of a roll with Cruise ever since he co-wrote 2008’s under-seen suspense thriller “Valkyrie.” McQuarrie also co-wrote last year’s flat-out brilliant sci-fi epic “Edge of Tomorrow,” and he wrote and directed 2012’s underrated “Jack Reacher.” (He also did an uncredited script polish on the aforementioned “Ghost Protocol.”)

But the key to the success of “Rogue Nation” is that it moves the “Mission: Impossible” series forward while also looking back on the staples that made it so great in the first place. The highly publicized stunt with Cruise hanging from the side of an airborne cargo jet is an envelope-pushing nod to his hair-raising climb outside the Burj Khalifa in “Ghost Protocol.” There’s also a gripping underwater break-in scene that brings to mind the dangling heist scene that Brian De Palma directed in the first installment, and that’s followed by an exhilarating motorcycle chase that harkens back to what many regard as the best scene from director John Woo’s “Mission: Impossible II.”

But “Rogue Nation” is more than just an exciting action film; it’s a smart and very well-written espionage thriller that will keep you on your toes right up until the very last scene. After Ethan Hunt’s cover is blown, and after the IMF is taken over by the CIA, Hunt has no choice but to go on the run in his efforts to expose the Syndicate, a sinister shadow organization whose agenda is to break down the very fabric of civilization. Hunt and his trusted team will stop at nothing to keep that from happening, but when they are confronted by Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a mysterious agent with questionable motives, the success of their high-stakes mission is thrown into serious jeopardy.

When it comes to the commitment that he brings to his craft both as an actor and as an action star, Tom Cruise continues to be the gold standard. Whether he’s hanging from the outside of an airborne cargo jet during an exhilarating James Bond-style pre-credits sequence, jumping from the roof of the Vienna Opera House or taking the driver’s seat for a high-speed car chase, his dedication to performing these practical stunts increases the gripping level of excitement.

The first half of “Rogue Nation” actually serves as something of a buddy movie between Cruise and Simon Pegg, who returns with a bigger role as computer-wiz Benji Dunn and is the heart of the film, as well as its comic relief. Jeremy Renner’s William Brandt, who was introduced in the last “Mission,” and Ving Rhames’ Luther Stickell, who’s been there since day one, get in on the action during the second half, while Alec Baldwin serves as an effective irritant as the CIA topper who wants to shut them down. Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson holds her own as the perfect match for Tom Cruise, since her femme fatale is basically a female version of Ethan Hunt, while Sean Harris makes for a good bad-guy-you-love-to-hate as Solomon Lane, the evil head of the Syndicate.

With a running time of 2 hours and 11 minutes, “Rogue Nation” runs a bit too long, and it doesn’t feel as fresh as its vibrant predecessor. But it has a better story, a grittier tone and the perfect blend of action, humor and intelligence – all of which make it the best “Mission” yet, as well as the best action movie of the summer. So as for Brandt’s worries that this might be the last mission, I beg to differ. If anything, the mission is just beginning, and as long as Cruise and company choose to keep accepting them, I have a feeling that the bar will be raised yet again.

— Scott Mantz