Movie Review: Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

By Michael Vass | December 24, 2011

The one thing that needs to be said about this fourth Mission Impossible film is that finally the true appeal of the television show is begining to be seen on the silver screen. It sure took them long enough.

The latest foray into a modern and revamped depiction of the loved 1960′s television show, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, hit gold with the most basic premise – teamwork. For all the gizmos, all the fancy and exotic locations, the reason that Mission Impossible wasn’t working was because of the team. That’s not to say that action junkies, and fans of Tom Cruise, weren’t coming to theaters before. But even with the hordes of viewers, the prior three films left audiences wanting more than what they got. This time they will leave feeling more complete.

Once again Ghost Protocol provides what is expected of a spy/action film these days. Lots of location filming of places most Americans will never see in person – and some of the best locations and views of these distant lands at that. This adventure features Moscow, Dubai, and India. Each looking more luxurious and fascinating than any actually are (I’ve lived in Moscow and worked 1/4 mile from the Kremlin, it isn’t nearly as glamourous as the movie makes it though it is impressive).

We get frequent and pulse-pounding action sequences. there are car chases, with beautiful cars. Even a concept electric car that makes the idea of a battery powered car seem more than the delusions of eco-maniacs and the Obama Administrtion. There is hand-to-hand combat a plenty. Girl vs girl, with the mandatory rip of clothing (but nothing too crazy or sexist). Girl vs guy, against a smarmy egotistical louse that needed to have his “God’s gift to women” mentality knocked down a few stories. Plus multiple good guy vs bad guy fights, several of which our hero Ethan Hunt does not immediately win.

But that is the other seed of improvement in the series. Not only does Ethan the Great need the help of other people with skills he does not have, but Ethan gets the worst end of the physical stuff too. Ethan gets hurt in fights, misses the incredible jump that requires split second timing, and has the super specific ultra hi tech gadget fail at the worst possible time. Life is not the perfect plan and smooth sailing that the prior 3 films imply IMF agents have generally.

Perhaps it can be called the Bruce Willis Effect. Audiences relate better to a hero that is obviously human. A hero that can’t beat everyone in a fist fight, and looks like he was in one when it is done. A hero that makes mistakes and fails when trying to do things that require near miraculous ability or timing. Just imagine Officer McClane at the end of any Die Hard film – you want him to beat the stuffing out of the boss bad guy after all the crap he has been through in the film and cheer when he does it. It’s so effective the Bourne films included that aspect, and now so is Mission Impossible.

That is Ethan Hunt in this film. Bruised, beaten, outsmarted and outclassed at various points in the film. He still is cool and quite capable, but he is far more human. Which adds to the appeal of the character. Plus, the Hunt character takes on more of a supervisory/organizer role that Phelps of the television series had. Another part desperately needed for the films.

Putting these elements together finally lets the audience care about who else is in the film and what they are doing. Rather than being transition devices that let Ethan/Cruise go from one beyond belief stunt to the next, the rest of the cast in this film actually get characters that have depth and backgrounds. They actually get to do more than stand still and allow Cruise to look good. Which even provides scenes with levity and lightness that don’t feel forced or put upon the audience.

Ghost Protocol is the maturation that fans of the Mission Impossible series have been waiting for. Tom Cruise has finally let his ego go, having a character that takes some painful missteps (well, leap literally), and gives room for other actors to justify the screen time they get.

Simon Pegg, best know for Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, makes the most of Benji Dunn’s enthusiasm and inexperience in the feild – for laughs and Barney/Q tech genuis slot that is needed in such a film.

Paula Patton does a good job as the femme fatale Jane Carter. A beauty with good looks (if a tad skinny) and the chops to take on the enemy with a gun or barehanded as the case may be.

Jeremy Renner as William Brandt is competent. While his character is a bit of a mush, he too elevates himself as the story unfolds. Out of the main cast, he has the least likeable character. Perhaps it was the directing, or the plot, but all but 2 of his scenes seem flat and his backstory is the most dragging part of the film. Thankfully it is short and intercut with far better plot scenes.

Another great choice in this film was providing a nutjob bad guy that didn’t waste a good portion of the film trying to explain why he is a nut or what his deep inner motivations are. He is more like the shark from JAWS, or Auric Goldfinger, or the Alien – just bad and menacing because they are.

Ultimately Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol does what it is supposed to do, it entertains. There is humor, action, missteps, and spy thriller intrigue with global stakes. Throw in dashes of the exotic and hi tech gadgets that are as impressive as they may be outlandish. Shake it well with good editing and a moderately fast pace, and you are served with a film that justifies the price of a theater ticket – without feeling like you just got raped because the film studio realized that if they make it 3D they can pull even more money out of the audience pockets without any added benefit.

Rating: 5.5/10 (2 votes cast)