There are only a couple of films that I’ve seen in the cinema three times. Four viewings always seemed like veering into obsessive territory, but three seemed like a sane thing to do in the right circumstances. One of those films was Mission: Impossible II (2000, dir. John Woo) (the other was The Last Jedi – seeing a film three times is no clear indicator of my relationship to a film, it’s all very confusing).

So I come to the Mission: Impossible franchise with some emotional baggage – like Ethan in M:I – Fallout. I objectively recognise that the original 1996 movie is the ‘best’ movie, but I have a special place in my heart for the ridiculousness of II. I haven’t seen the third instalment (something about it put me off), Ghost Protocol was… ok and tried to make Jeremy Renner happen when it shouldn’t have, and Rogue Nation was very enjoyable. I fundamentally told myself I didn’t like Mission: Impossible films, despite my relationship with II.

As a result, I didn’t really want to see Fallout, but the reviews and the word from friends were so positive, I felt I had to (even if it did pick up plot strands from 3 – aka the gaping hole in my Ethan Hunt knowledge). I have not been disappointed. It was THE PERFECT MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE MOVIE. Not that the original isn’t still objectively in a ‘class’ of its own, but the first movie is not what the franchise became. Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner took it and reshaped it for their own ends, as a star vehicle for Tom Cruise and his stunts. Clearly, an initiative that had some legs… as 22 years later it’s still relevant. The second film may have landed bumpily, but JJ Abrams came on board with III and things became clearer. Chris McQuarrie is now the helmer, and has directed two in a row. He has brought a consistent vision to the franchise that works.

One of the aspects of Fallout that made it so enjoyable was the sense of real peril and threat, something I hadn’t felt in a M:I movie since the original. The score by Lorne Balfe also did wonders in creating this sense of tension, and in moving the action along.

Henry Cavill (and the infamous moustache) was a huge asset. In contrast to Jeremy Renner (who was also a big name, buff, and a superhero type), Cavill was brought in with a specified purpose, rather than as an undefined potential mini-Ethan. His presence elevates the movie as a result. Simon Pegg too, as Benji, is the best he has ever been in these films. He has gone from being one-dimensional and slightly silly, to participating in an equal stakes way, and shouldering emotional heft. Speaking of emotion, Ving Rhames gets emotional notes reflecting his standing in the franchise – both personally and professionally with Hunt – and it’s one of the best uses of this character through the movies.

Continuing the cast encomium, Rebecca Ferguson is thankfully back, as she was one of the things that made Rogue Nation good. Mission: Impossible has had a consistent problem in its characterisation of women (and the failure to cast women as return characters) – they’ve tended to be some combination of dangerous seductress or… wife (I can’t talk about Paula Patton in Ghost Protocol because the further away from that movie I am, the less I like it, and sadly Angela Bassett was under-used in Fallout). Although Ferguson does end up in a partner role at the close of Fallout, we can hope her role will continue through these films, as an agentic and independent operator, bringing separate motivations to the table, and equal ability (this is probably fanciful… but we can hope). Vanessa Kirby’s character was… well she was a dangerous seductress but at least she had movie universe pedigree.

(Ok, rereading the above paragraph makes me realise it’s not doing great with its female characters).

The stunts… Empire Magazine said it best when they promised that the last 40 minutes of Fallout are the best you’ll see of any blockbuster this summer. They’re breathtakingly good, and dial up the sense of peril that pervaded the movie. Finally, as ever, the locations are stunning. Although, clearly there could have been a thrilling chase sequence over the Harland and Wolff cranes in Belfast (yes… Belfast is in it!?), but hey, you can’t have everything.

This may be the best Mission: Impossible there has been! Yes I know the first one was iconic… but this is definitely the best of the sequels and I shall take no further qualifications (sorry M:I-II, I will always love you).

4/5