Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning Review

The Final Reckoning of the Mission Impossible franchise will hit theaters May 23th 2025. First off, I want to thank the sponsors and Paramount Pictures for inviting me to the press screening. Now that out of the way lets talk about the movie. The term sticking the landing is used a lot but in this case it really does fit. I predicted that if this movie began with a recap of the franchise as a whole and not just from the last film, this would probably be the last installment with Tom Cruise. You get that right away in the opening credits.  If Mission Impossible part one was you boarding the plane, the beginning of Dead Reckoning was the captain asking the passengers to fasten their seat belts as we are about to land at our destination.

The movie was moments of thriller brilliance. In hindsight, the last two installments being a reckoning two-parter was probably not the best marketing move and what I believe lent to Dead Reckoning under performing. When you walk into the final Reckoning you’re really just reminded that this you are now coming back after 2 years to press the pause button on this 5 hours and 32 minute film. Many people decided not to partake in the last film and to just wait for this one. In my opinion, Dead Reckoning was a much better movie. The set up was masterful but the finale was just good in comparison. The concept of fighting the entity again became stale and the main villain (Gabriel) was more of a cartoon version of his Dead Reckoning self. I can watch Dead Reckoning again and again but I can not just pop in Final Reckoning without seeing Dead Reckoning first, if that makes sense. It really is a 5 hour plus film and the feeling that Dead Reckoning is a better stand alone than the finale gave me the conclusion that it was a tad of a step back but not by much. I’ll get in to where I rank these films later.

The cast, as usual, were brilliant in their chemistry. Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) has charisma to spare and it is infectious to the point where actors whom I couldn’t see as a fit left me believing ‘They were the only ones who could have played this role’. In his 60s Tom must have had it in the contract that because he is known for running on screen more than a little bit, to the point where running at full speed is his catch phrase, his “I’ll Be Back”. Tom ran more miles than Forest Gump in this movie. I think he out ran himself in all other movies combined. Not just Mission Impossible, All of his movies. He commanded every scene he was in and some he wasn’t. Ever present. At some points I thought he was in the theater with me.

Hayley Atwell (Grace) made me feel so safe. In the tenses of moments her presents was reassuring. Grace is the kind of love interest, friend, or family member that just lets you know ‘Everything is going to be okay. I know it because I believe it and I believe in you’. And no, that’s not how I always feel about Hayley Atwell. When she’s Agent Carter or Captain Britain, I see bad ass Avenger who’s about to wreck shop and look great doing it. Hayley’s performance in both Reckoning, which is what I’ll call the 5 hour version, was hope in the face of disperse. Not only was she her own person, a boss, a leader but she is also a great partner. Out of all of the love interest that Ethan had, maybe some people or even I would argue others were a better fit but Grace gives just that ‘grace’. She completes the Ethan character as if she was written to be some of the best versions of all of the ones that Ethan lost.

Pom Klementieff as Paris. I didn’t know if I would be stuck on her Gardians of The Galaxy character when I saw her in DR but after FR this is my favorite character she’s ever played. The growth from where she starts to where she ends up had me thinking. If she were to survive in the end, I could see a continuation of this franchise with her as either the leader or the muscle who goes and gets the job done. More than her action scenes Paris said more by emoting than she ever did with dialogue. Her silence was at times, deafening, threatening and darling.

Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn is as always the glue that keeps this franchise together. His performance in gave me the most heart stopping moments than all of his others combined. Ving Rhames as Luther book ended the entire deal for the better. He delivered Luther’s over all main purpose. Surprise performances came from Tramell Tillman, Nick Offerman, and Lucy Tulugarjuk to the point where you just did not know what they were capable of or would do next.

The only underwhelming performance came from Gabriel. Not because Esai Morales did anything wrong, it just didn’t feel like the same guy towards the end. I said earlier it was more like a cartoon, mustache twirling version of what he did in Dead Reckoning, but I’ll say this, his final scene summed up a persons “Final Reckoning” perfectly metaphorically.

My over all conclusion, it’s a must see if you’re a die hard fan of the franchise. The overall tone of the film was thank you for 30 years of your support and love. You won’t be disappointed.

Where do I rank the franchise and the actors that made the movie memorable for me.

1.      Ghost Protocol – Paula Patton

2.      Fall Out – Henry Cavill

3.      Rogue Nation -  Renner

4.      MI: 3 - Hoffman

5.      Dead Reckoning - Pom

6.      Final Reckoning - Tom

7.      MI: 1 - Bord

8.      MI: 2 – Hated

What is your ranking and tell me what you think of the Both Reckonings finale? Leave your thoughts here in the comments section and I just may give you a shout out in the next review here on Talking Through The Movies.