Movie Review: “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”

I think it’s safe to say that the “Mission: Impossible” franchise and its leading man, Tom Cruise, are mutually dependent. Without Tom Cruise and his death-defying stunts, which he does himself a-la Jackie Chan, the franchise would definitely not have the same impact. At the same time, the franchise continues to establish Tom Cruise as a blockbuster star, while many of his other projects have not worked. So, does the latest addition to the franchise continue to cement this relationship as a successful one? Thankfully yes – “Fallout” is one of the best movies in the franchise, and is a perfect example of a summer thrill ride blockbuster.

The plot is nothing more than an excuse to jump from one insane action sequence to the next. That being said, here goes – Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is given a mission to recover nuclear devices before they get into the hands of the Apostles, a terrorist group headed by a mystery man known only as John Lark, who are loyal to Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), the antagonist of the previous movie. After an initial failure, Ethan and his team (Simon Pegg as Benji and Ving Rhames as Luther) must join hands with CIA operative August Walker (Henry Cavill) and go on a globe-trotting mission to recover the devices and save the world. Add into the mix returning characters like MI 6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) and IMF head Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin), along with new additions like CIA head Erica Sloan (Angela Bassett) and the mysterious White Widow (Vanessa Kirby), and we have the components for a fun, albeit overcrowded ride.

This is probably the first movie in the franchise where you should have watched atleast the last instalment before this to be able to follow the movie, given that there are returning characters whose backstory is important to the proceedings. There are also callbacks to the previous instalments for those who can spot them. But, even if you have not seen any of the previous movies, chances are you will enjoy the ride since it is the breath-taking action sequences that will keep you glued to the edge of your seats. There are a lot of them, each one as exhilarating as the next. Be it grand pieces like the HALO jump, the bike chase in Paris or the climax featuring a helicopter chase in the mountains of New Zealand (standing in for Kashmir); or the more rooted ones like the bathroom fight scene or the foot chase across London’s rooftops, one cannot help but be impressed at the spectacle on offer. I saw the movie in an IMAX screen, and it definitely does add to the impact.

The other actors are more to rally around Cruise, but everyone does their part well. Needless to say though, the star of the show is Tom Cruise, and full credit to him, as he performs each stunt with so much gusto and enthusiasm, it would put much younger actors to shame. His commitment to the scenes is what makes this movie so much fun.

Is “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” too long? Maybe. Is the plot virtually non-existent? Yes. Do some of the action sequences go on for too long? Possibly. But is the movie just a whole lotta fun? Hell yeah!! If you haven’t caught it yet, definitely go ahead and watch it. It is a thrill ride that is sure to entertain. 

Movie Review: “Ant-Man and the Wasp”

One of the biggest successes of the Marvel movies is that the makers seem to think like the audience. So, after the emotionally heavy “Avengers: Infinity War”, it isn’t surprising that the next instalment is a light, breezy, fun caper. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” is a refreshing change, with down to earth stakes and a more personal story.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” picks up a bit after the events of “Captain America: Civil War”. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is under house arrest for helping Captain America during the events of that movie – with only days left for his sentence to get over, he is contacted by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) after he has a vision of Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Hope’s mother who was stuck in the quantum realm. Hope and Hank are trying to find a way to get Janet back, but have to deal with the FBI, some black-market dealers and an adversary called Ghost, who can walk through walls. Their efforts to get Janet back forms the plot of the movie.

This movie, like the first Ant-Man movie, works on account of the fun element and the easy charm of its actors. Paul Rudd is as likeable as ever, though it was Evangeline Lilly who was the highlight for me. The interactions between Rudd, Lilly and Michael Douglas provide some of the best moments. But, like the first movie, the scene stealer is Michael Pena – his comic timing is impeccable and the gag where he narrates incidents with the actors acting it out is still comic gold.

The plot can seem a bit muddled with too many players in the mix, but at the heart of it the screenplay is more about the laughs and the action sequences. The size shifting antics are great, and the action sequences deliver enough excitement. The effects team has done a great job here. The relationships are also well etched out here – I thought the interactions between Scott and his daughter Cassie were especially well done.

To sum up, though “Ant-Man and the Wasp” may not be the best in the impressive list of movies in the Marvel cinematic universe, it is still a nice change of pace and probably what the audience needed. It’s a fun time at the movies, and you will leave the theatre with a smile in your face. Definitely worth a watch. (Needless to say by now, but remember to stay till the credits are done.)