Mission Impossible Fallout REVIEW: Tom Cruise goes from strength to strength – BEST yet

Back in 1996 the ‘60s spy TV show got it’s big screen treatment with a dark and twist-filled spy thriller from Cruise and Director Brian De Palma.

Now over twenty years later and the sixth instalment of Mission Impossible is about to hit cinemas.

Of course usually anything that’s the fifth sequel to an iconic first movie is bound to be terrible isn’t it?

Well that’s certainly not the case with this franchise, which in recent years has gone from strength to strength and has no provided the best entry to date in Mission Impossible – Fallout.

A direct sequel to the last outing, 2015’s Rogue Nation, Fallout raises the stakes and improves on its predecessor in all the best ways.

The synopsis reads: “When an IMF mission ends badly and Solomon Lane escapes custody, the world is faced with dire consequences. 

“As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begins to question his loyalty and his motives. Hunt finds himself in a race against time, hunted by assassins and former allies while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.”

Without giving away anything else, the best way of describing Mission Impossible – Fallout is that beautifully balanced the different tones and story telling techniques from the last five films; learning from past mistakes and bringing together all the great aspects enjoyed over the last two decades.

Firstly the action is brutal and gut-punching, the pacing heart-pumping and stakes so high it’s gasp inducing at times. Meanwhile Cruise gives his all when it comes to those stunts again which we won’t spoil, but do watch out for the real one that went wrong delaying shooting for months.

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Next up the twists and turns are a return to the franchise’s routes with the Cold War-esque paranoia of the first entry. You’ll think you’ve worked all out, only to be caught out just as badly as the characters. Better watch out for those masks.

In terms of humour, this is also the funniest film of franchise, even topping the almost cartoony and stupendously fun Ghost Protocol, with most of the laughs provided by series regulars Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames. But all the while not being comic relief that overshadows the serious, dark aspects of the plot.

And this is also the most personal film for Cruise’s Hunt, who is shown at his most vulnerable. From the beginning he’s met his match with Cavill’s younger, almost more competent agent, all the while wrestling with his past demons which adds a more three-dimensional element to the character in some very emotional tear-jerker scenes.

In fact Cruise’s dynamic with Cavill is one of the film’s highlights, making you think this is The Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie that should have been made. After all Cruise pulled out of playing Napoleon Solo, while Cavill was set to play the Russian spy. But when Cruise pulled out, the Superman star took up his role opposite Armie Hammer.

But all in all Mission Impossible – Fallout is an improvement on all the previous film’s failings, drawing together all the best aspects of them; simultaneously giving off that classic vibe of the original while never being afraid to continually evolve.

James Bond had better watch out.

Mission Impossible – Fallout is released in UK cinemas on July 25, 2018.