It’s hard to really sum up what the Mission: Impossible movies are all about, really. (Loosely) based on the 60’s franchise of the same name, it’s gone all over the place. The first was a decent adventure with moments of thrills, but also sheer preposterousness, including making a villain out of someone who’s been a hero for the longest time. The second, directed by John Woo, was a tired action affair that only picked up in the last 20 minutes or so. The third validated the series, thanks to director J.J. Abrams, but still came just short of being an epic. So with that, where does that leave us with the fourth movie in the series, Ghost Protocol? Surprisingly, a fresh start; the movie picks up with an impromptu rescue mission involving long-time team leader Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), who’s backed up by a pair of bravado agents – the spry newcomer Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and the wisecracking tech ace-turned-field agent Benjy Dunn (Simon Pegg).
Following said inspired escape, they tackle a new mission – they’re going head long against a madman by the code name of Cobalt, sent to the Kremlin to acquire some data on him before he gets away. But despite some sheer technical genius (a sequence that has a few humorous moments, mostly involving Pegg and his amateurness in the field), the mission backfires, and Cobalt gets the better of everyone, leaving the Kremlin in explosive decay. The “Secretary” (Tom Wilkinson, in a brief role) explains that the team has been pinned with the bombing, but before they’re sent on a mission to go after Cobalt, he gets the jump on them in an assassination attempt. Ethan barely escapes, with a field analyst named Brandt (Jeremy Renner) in tow. With only four people altogether and a handful of supplies, Ethan decides to take on Cobalt head-on, not only to clear their disavowed names, but to also prevent nuclear peril before it even initiates – a task easier said than done. Taking the reigns for the fourth go-around in the series is director Brad Bird, a rather startling choice.
After all, this would be considered his first live-action feature, since his last three films – The Incredibles, Ratatouille and The Iron Giant – are all animated, either by computer or traditional means. But leave it to Bird to take over with great aplomb, barely missing a step. He really knows how to pace an action film, to the point that you’re literally clinging to your seat, wondering if someone is going to make it out of a dire situation. Sure, there’s one really preposterous one involving what appears to be a magnet-powered levitation robot, but Bird actually makes it a believable factor. And that leads us to what makes Ghost Protocol stand out over other films – terrific action sequences. One involves a foot and car chase through a sandstorm, as Ethan relies on a small piece of technology to keep his target intact, and then stop them using a rather unpredictable means. Another takes place in Mumbai, where Ethan battles an opponent through an automated car park, jumping from platform to platform and eventually finding a quick way down to meet them head on.
But if there’s truly a highlight piece in Ghost Protocol, it’s definitely in Dubai, involving the Burj Khalifa, a hotel that’s considered the world’s tallest building. The set piece involves Hunt climbing up the side of this monstrosity using a pair of suction-powered gloves, which are less than reliable. As a result, he has a couple of “incidents” between the fall, making the scene not only believable, but also exciting. Furthermore, the fact that Cruise and Bird are actually up ON THE DAMN THING, without using any digital trickery to create the illusion, is nuts. There are definitely a couple of moments here when you wonder if the mission will actually be successful. Though the story does involve an eye roll or two – the villain, Cobalt, leaves very little to go on, unlike what Philip Seymour Hoffman did for Mission: Impossible 3 – and the appearance of IMF kiosks and weapons caches are a wee bit too convenient – they do set the stage for the action, and some cool little segments that help tie the team together a little better. One sequence in India, for instance, reveals Carter’s truly sexy side, while also setting the stage for a little teamwork between Brandt and Dunn – even if it’s a little on the uneasy side.
Kudos to Bird for keeping everything on track, but the actors are fairly game as well. Cruise, as always, goes all out with Hunt, from fighting sequences that look better than most (not too many quick pans here, thank God) to that whole Dubai thing. Renner is every bit as good a second fiddle, and has his reasons for doubt in the midst of the mission. Patton does a great job in her role, especially when it comes going toe-to-toe with a female assassin. And Pegg, like clockwork, provides plenty of comic relief. Him walking in when Hunt barely survives something and sighing under his breath is hilarious. (Just see it for yourself.) The villains feel dialed in, but the movie isn’t necessarily about them. Also, watch toward the end for a cameo from an old friend of Ethan’s. It’s a shame he didn’t get involved more in the mission, but, hey, at least we saw him. Ghost Protocol pretty much has everything working for it when it comes to the teamwork of the main actors, the stellar action sequences and the strong direction by Bird. It’s possibly the best movie in the series to date, and a promising start for better films to come. Hey, as long as Brad and Tom are on board, count me in. (Oh, and bring Patton and Pegg along, will ya?)
