Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015) Review

This is the year of the spy. More specifically it is the year of the retro-spy, the secret agent personified by Sean Connery on the big screen and by many other dashing heroes on the small one. This will become apparent to anyone who sees this new Mission Impossible film in the theater. Directly proceeding the film at my theater was a trailer for both Spectre (the new 007 adventure) and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (an update of a classic spy TV show) all three of these properties have their origins in the Cold War with the USSR and the last time that all three were on our collective screens was 1967. In that year You Only Live Twice with Sean Connery was released, the Man From U.N.C.L.E. was in its third season (admittedly its worst), and Mission Impossible debuted. Adding to the retro feel is that all three of these properties seem to be going back to their roots. Bond is resurrecting a villainous organization he hasn't faced since 1971, U.N.C. L.E. is set in the 1960s, and this new Mission Impossible brought the classic organization "the Syndicate" up-to-date. I hope for great new outings for both 007 and Napoleon Solo but what is clear is that in 2015 the new Mission Impossible has set the bar very high indeed.

The film's opening tells you everything you need to know about this series in its current form. An airplane carrying some weapons is about to take off and it has to be stopped. There's a whole team trying to stop it but their technology is failing them. Coming to the rescue is Tom Cruise who jumps on the plane just before it takes off and has to hang off the side of the airplane while it takes off. The fact that this stunt was done for real only adds to the entertainment factor and before we know it we're passing the popcorn and the classic theme song is playing. Mission Impossible moves at the break-neck pace that the best blockbusters do. Its twisty plot is woven through impressive stunts and lots of fun. Like its 1960s counterparts no one here will win an award for acting but that's not the point, it's pure entertainment.

One of this new Mission's strongest assets is its strong female character. Ilsa is given complex motives and is never allowed to become marginalized by being "just another love interest". Simon Pegg also excels with both comedic gravitas as well as a good character arc. The action itself is well shot and the stunts are sometimes jaw dropping.

If I have to nitpick it is that the film may be slightly too long. This seems to be a problem with many action films these days. It all works to bring great entertainment though. Forget Mad Max, this is the best action film of the summer so far 4.5/5