I found it surprising that I walked out of the cinema for MI: Fallout actually having enjoyed watching the whole movie. When I told my friends how I felt, a number of them scoffed, commenting on how the movie itself was simplistic. I thought back to the exact plot and realized they weren’t wrong. Mission Impossible, while not without its occasional twist and admirable stunts, has never veered too much into original territory. Why exactly then was I so pleased with the movie? I think I have some hypotheses.

For the uninitiated, Mission Impossible follows the Impossible Mission Force on a series of covert missions that deal with extremely precarious and ruthless scenarios. Fallout is the sixth movie in the series and as with almost every installment, it follows some form of challenge to Ethan Hunt’s leadership and ability to complete the core mission. In fact, it is fair to say that Ethan Hunt, the leader of the team, is the focus of the show, sometimes even more than the main plot point itself. This sounds awfully a lot like another famous spy series. Yup, James Bond. But this is where I think my appreciation for Mission Impossible comes in – Ethan Hunt is actually trying to be a good person. In today’s postmodern cinematic scene where the antihero and convoluted main character take center stage, Ethan Hunt is refreshingly honest and sincere in wanting the best for those close to him. Tom Cruise doesn’t have a hard time being charming on screen, but he really brings through the struggle Hunt has to go through to continue being good in a world that is apathetic to morals and virtue. Call it a more mellow outlook but I think we underestimate how difficult it is to actually act consistently with morality in today’s world. Every Mission Impossible episode thus far has been unique in that aspect.

Fallout doesn’t waver too much from the formula. Hunt has to recover nuclear packages that he lost while trying to save Luther, a longstanding member of his team. Along the way, CIA agent August Walker, played by Henry Cavil, is attached to Hunt’s team to ensure completion of the mission in case Hunt “succumbs to his morals” again. Of course, things are not as simple and plot twists ensue, bringing Hunt on a crash course towards some pretty dangerous moments. The film traverses some great landscapes including London, Paris and Pakistan, bringing me so much joy as a traveler. The cast is stellar in carrying forward the dashing ethos of the series while still punching in humor and sincerity at the right times. As an action film, Fallout actually ticks all the boxes and still feels like a great time at the cinema, not just another boring flick. If you see it on your next movie browse, I’d definitely queue it up.

Here’s my rating of the movie below:

Cinematography: 5/5

Screenwriting: 4/5

Musical Score: 4/5

Acting/ Performance: 5/5

Overall: 4.5/5