Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011): United States – directed by Brad Bird

Rated PG-13 by the MPAA – contains violence, some sexual innuendo, some language

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol represents Brad Bird’s first foray into the world of live-action feature films, but it is clear that the directing skills he learned from working on The Incredibles and Ratatouille translated perfectly into live-action. As a result, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol brings the franchise back to life in impressive and heart-stopping ways.

The story begins with agents Benji (Simon Pegg) and Jane (Paula Patton) breaking Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out of a Russian prison. As soon as he’s free there is an assignment, should he choose to accept it. Immediately Ethan sets off with Jane and Benji to break into the Kremlin, but it appears to be a set-up. An explosion cripples the building and threatens to throw the world into war once again. The attack appears to be pegged on Ethan and his crew, and they are disavowed, though they are given an extra team member: Brandt (Jeremy Renner), an analyst whose past probably holds a few secrets.

It seems that a master criminal is excited to start nuclear war in the hopes that the survivors will lead to a new, improved planet. Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist, from the Millennium Trilogy [review here]) is close to holding nuclear launch codes, a launch device, and a satellite capable of transmitting them. Obviously, such a result is not what the IMF would wish for. Together the foursome must race across the globe attempting to stop Hendricks from carrying out his dastardly plan.

The first stop is Dubai, where the most spectacular stunts occur. Cruise proves he is still an action hero unlike any other in the business today, and is fearless walking along or down the fearsome Burj Khalifa (why do we often call it the Burj Tower in English, when “burj” means “tower”? It’s like asking for “chai tea” at Starbucks.). The group almost catches up to Hendricks in Dubai, though a terrific dust storm threatens everything. After Dubai the group heads to Mumbai, where a new set of challenges await before the ultimate showdown and conclusion.

The first half of the film is a nonstop roller coaster ride. Ethan and his gang are thrown remorselessly into a new situation as soon as they recover from one impossible scenario. The action ramps up unceasingly through the Dubai episode, but then the rest of the film has trouble keeping up such an enormous level of intensity. The climax in Mumbai is satisfactory, but a bit of a letdown from the adrenaline rush the first hour provides.

Bird’s direction and action instincts are impeccable, no doubt helped by Cruise’s talents as actor and producer. Renner is also impressive as Brandt, a man with substantial action skills. Patton is effective as the attractive yet self-conscious Jane, and is constantly troubled by the loss of her fellow agent, Hanaway (“Lost’s” Josh Holloway), an episode that occurs prior to Ethan’s jail rescue. Pegg is amusing and perfectly cast as the technical wizard who is excited to finally be granted privileges as a field agent. Their characters are of little importance, but rather serve to support Ethan’s mystique and intrepidity in the face of the impossible.

The production is top-notch, with world-wide locations wisely chosen as exotic backdrops, and, more cynically, to bolster the international box office takings (the tactic has proven effective, with strong box office takings in the U.A.E., Russia and India). The stunts are incredible, and knowing that Cruise actually performed his own stunts makes it all the more impressive, and drastically increases his stature as an action star. The pace is frenetic yet fairly easy to follow, thankfully.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is a grand fun time at the theater. It is fast-paced, energetic, stylish, cool, and a heart-racer for the first half. It serves to reestablish Cruise as a credibly action hero, and Ethan Hunt as a credible box office performer. It is a roller coaster ride, with little care given to who is on board or why, but the overall result is nonetheless engaging, entertaining, and well worth the time for casual movie-goers.