In this film, Ethan Hunt has re-formed his team to track down Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), a dangerous terrorist who plans to steal the nuclear launch codes for the Russian ICBMs and launch them against the United States. Hunt’s efforts go awry when his IMF team is blamed for the destruction of the Kremlin. This action has forced the hand of the US President who initiates the “Ghost Protocol” code and completely disavows the IMF members.
Hunt decides the only way to clear his name and his team is to keep pursuing Hendricks across the world to places such as Dubai which features the highlight of the film, a spine-tingling and gravity defying sequence on the world’s tallest building. Despite all of the efforts of the Hunt’s IMF team, are they too late to stop the plans of Hendricks?
Well, probably not which would not be a surprise to many who watch action thrillers. Cruise imbues the film with his typical top-notch production and high power actions sequences which alternate with the less interesting “plot” of the film which must be dutifully carried on. Nyqvist, who is best known playing the lead in the original Swedish version of the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, turns in a more energetic, but less interesting performance here which unfortunately works against much of the film’s tension.
Not surprisingly, Cruise has gathered some of Hollywood’s familiar faces to fill out his IMF team, including Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”) and the ever reliable Simon Pegg (“Shawn of the Dead”) for added support, though as typical of most his films, it is Cruise himself who keeps the camera squarely focused on his actions and sculpted body through the entire film.
Perhaps the most interesting addition is Brad Bird as the film’s director. Bird is best known for directing animated films, most notably “The Incredibles”, “Ratatouille” and “The Iron Giant” which is certainly one of the most entertaining and best animated films of the past 20 years. Bird brings his energy and unique vision to “Ghost Protocol” which accounts for the superb actions sequences. Given his efforts, Bird manages to make the best out of a rather incomplete plot which could have used another run through in the writing department.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is a definite improvement over the more languid Mission Impossible 3 and some may see this as the best entry of the series itself. However, while some of the action sequences are well made with the dizzying heights of the Dubai building scene being the highlight, the film itself is fairly forgettable, though admittedly serviceable entry for those who enjoyed the first three in the series.
