Review: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Plot: After a Kremlin bombing implicates agent Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) entire IMF team, the group embarks on a mission to clear their names and avert global disaster. In their path is a shadowy figure known only as Cobalt (Michael Nyqvist), a Russian nuclear strategist who believes nuclear war will generate the next step in human evolution. Along with tech agent Benji (Simon Pegg), Jane Carter (Paula Patton), and former IMF field agent William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), Ethan and his team will have to hunt down Cobalt and avoid total nuclear holocaust.

Review: The Mission Impossible series was clearly on it's last legs. After all the first film came out fifteen years ago and 2006's MI3 didn't even gross enough domestically to cover its budget. How much farther could this series really ago?

Apparently quite far.

Ghost Protocol comes across as a well constructed, if slightly over-hyped, popcorn action flick that delivers consistent thrills, a few laughs, and lots of adrenaline.

The fourth edition in the Mission Impossible series works due in large part to director Brad Bird. Although he's directed before, this is Bird's first sojourn into live action, as his previous credits included Pixar films The Incredibles and Ratatouille. If directing animated films translates to this kind of success in the action genre, then Michael Bay might want to take a cue from Brad Bird. Ghost Protocol is slick and fast paced and leaves the audience little room to breathe before actions scenes. Credit goes to the editing of Paul Hirsch for this last. Fight scenes such as the opening one at a Russian prison flow extremely well. Additionally, a later sequence in Mumbai cuts effortlessly between shots of Jane seducing an Indian billionaire, Brandt and Benji infiltrating a computer mainframe, and Ethan Hunt trying to outmaneuver a Russian operative.

Cinematographer Robert Elswit (Boogie Nights, The Town) deserves a lot of credit for the success of Ghost Protocol as well. The scene where Ethan scales the world's tallest building in Dubai is nothing short of spectacular. The car chase scenes in Mumbai and a game of cat and mouse between Hunt and Cobalt in a sandstorm are particularly memorable as well. Ghost Protocol wouldn't have worked without these exotic locales or Elswit behind the camera.

That's not to say that all of Ghost Protocol is enthralling. The opening sequence where IMF agent Trevor Hathaway (LOST's Josh Holloway) escapes Russian operatives is so groan worthy that I honestly thought for a moment that Holloway was actually an actor mimicking Hunt's moves for a movie he was making. It was that over the top and almost derailed the film for me. Several plot points were flawed as well. The romantic back story between Jane and Trevor feels forced. Moreover, Brandt's past connection to the death of Ethan's wife falls just short of contrived. Screenwriters Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum were much better at writing action sequences than real human interaction.

Thankfully a strong chemistry between the four main characters helps keep Ghost Protocol from self-destructing. Simon Pegg is hilarious as tech nerd Benji although his desire to wear disguises gets a little monotonous. Patton's Jane Carter defines the phrase femme fatale. At times deadly, other times sophisticated, and always sexy as hell, Patton exudes confidence and charisma. Surprisingly, two time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner may be the weakest of the four as he seems at times out of place as ex-IMF field agent Brandt. (Renner's character is really going to be afraid of jumping ten feet? Really?) Although his fight and action sequences are on par with Cruise's I never felt fully convinced of his secret agent status.

The same however cannot be said for Tom Cruise. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is Cruise's comeback party. Returning to a role that helped define his career, Cruise's Hunt is just as sleek, sophisticated, and physically imposing as ever. It's obvious that Ethan is torn up about his wife's death and that pain inundates every action he takes in Ghost Protocol. Cruise takes after every action scene with the gusto and vigor of an 18 year old, not the 48 year old adult he actually is. To actually climb the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building like Cruise did requires a fortitude that this humble critic could never muster. I much prefer Cruise jumping off buildings than jumping on Oprah's couches. Welcome back Mr. Cruise. Welcome back.

While Ghost Protocol doesn't hit on all levels, it's certainly a satisfying sequel and a shot in the arm for the franchise. Mission (mostly) accomplished.

My rating: 7.5/10