Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

(Brad Bird, 2011)

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

Summary: Fourth and best in the series, 'M:I4' owes plenty to Brad Bird's debut in live action directing. Great entertainment.
 

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By the fourth film in any franchise, the formula is usually running a little thin. 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' reinvigorates and redirects the adventures of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) into something else to enjoyable effect.

New to the franchise are three key players: director Brad Bird (best known for his work in comedy, specifically animation classics like 'The Incredibles) and two new co-stars to pad out the team - Paula Patton as the sexy backup who, refreshingly has both strength and back story, and 'The Hurt Locker' and 'The Town' double Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner as a field agent who reluctantly joins the dynamic.

Returning in a bigger role than previously is Simon Pegg as the computer geek. It means that no longer is that a one man show with a bit of flavour thrown in, it's an actual team.

This paves the way for more possible action sequences for each character but also, crucially, more interaction, better dialogue and some wonderful chemistry. In addition to being the most rounded of the series, 'M:I4' is also the funniest. Cruise's charm was misguided in the enjoyable/forgettable 'Knight and Day', but here he's the Sinatra to his acquired Rat Pack.

Another key element is the use of practical effects - a sand storm chase sequence and a scale up the world's tallest building are just two scenes which, under Bird's Hitchcock-like orchestration, bristle with genuine energy.

Yes, there is CGI but even Tom Cruise doesn't have enough power in America to actually blow up the Kremlin. Instead Bird directs the film as if it's animation, throwing his stars against huge visual backdrops and constantly edging them in and out of the frame. Even if the last 10 minutes appear to be solely constructed from ham and cheese, the bulk of this film has real scope, energy and movement.

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