WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Ethan Hunt and his friends team up with a lethal operative to bring down a global organization of spies and terrorists. But whose side is she really on? (Buy tickets here).
IS IT ANY GOOD? (GRADE: A-) While it’s debatable which M:I film is king of the series, Rogue Nation certainly earns its place alongside the best of them. That’s no small feat: we’re five films in and there’s no sign of franchise fatigue. Writer-direct Christopher McQuarrie (who worked on other excellent Cruise efforts Edge of Tomorrow, Jack Reacher, and Valkyrie) delivers a crackerjack spy thriller here.
In addition to the dazzling set pieces these films are known for, Rogue Nation delivers an interesting story, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and an excellent throw-down performance by Rebecca Ferguson. It’s nice to have Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, and Ving Rhames back (even if the latter two are underutilized until late in the game). Alec Baldwin turns out to be a welcome addition. Cruise continues to astound with his stunt-work here. There’s some nice nods, in both dialogue and musical cues, to previous films in the series.
As for flaws, the tonal shifts between lighthearted escapism and gritty violence are jarring at times and the film feels slightly overlong. Also, some of the action beats and plot twists are ridiculous and fall apart if one gives them
much thought. Ultimately, these do little to detract from a very
enjoyable night at the cinema. Rogue Nation is charming, unpredictable, and a whole lot of fun. (Buy tickets here).
Read the full review on Mormons at the Megaplex
