The new Mission: Impossible is a comedy wearing a convincing disguise

What Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One lacked in narrative cohesion, it made up for by leaning into the reality that larger-than-life spectacle and Tom Cruise's enthusiasm for doing his own stunt work have always been the franchise's main draw. Even though the film's artificial intelligence-focused plot felt a little shaky, its action was thrilling, and it was obvious that Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie were trying to guide IMF agent Ethan Hunt's overarching story toward a conclusion that would satisfy longtime fans.

It was also very clear that Dead Reckoning was just the first half of something bigger and even more ambitious. And while Paramount's original plan to release a sequel shortly after Dead Reckoning's debut ended up being waylaid by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, there is something kind of poetic about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning arriving at a time when the push to incorporate AI into almost every aspect of our lives has become far more intense.

The Final Reckoning is a shaggier and sillier film than its predecessor - one that feels like it has given up any pretense of being about intriguing spycraft in favor of big set pieces design …

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