Quality versus quantity. It’s a choice made in many aspects of life. Including action movies. 

For Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, the choice was quality. The action scenes are thrilling, outrageous and huge fun to watch. But the sitting around talking scenes… eh, not so much fun.

Toby Keith had a hit song called A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action. I thought of that 30-years-ago country hit as I exited the MI:DR screening. Quantity.

But make no mistake, this new film IS a “must-see.” In the theater. As with many action films of late, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s real and what’s special effects. However, because the action scenes in MI:DR are so well done, it doesn’t matter. Quality.

MI:DR is a “must-see” because its star is Tom Cruise who “saved Hollywood” last year with Top Gun: Maverick. Tom no longer has that youthful look but when he’s onscreen there’s an electricity and a sparkle that make whatever his eventual payday turns out to be… not enough. 

This time the impossible mission for Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is to track down a key that can provide great power to whoever possesses it. That’s right, a key. Well, it’s a special key made of two pieces that fit together. It provides control of the Entity, a software program that has the potential to mess stuff up really bad. 

To secure the key, Hunt and those who also want it conduct a long running chase from Abu Dhabi to Rome to Venice to the Austrian Alps. Among those involved in the pursuit of the prize are some bad guys and girls and some good guys and girls and some whose allegiance is initially uncertain. Running along with Hunt are his support team played by Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg. 

The film’s money shot is the train business that has been featured in trailers and ads and is seriously mind-blowing. But the chase sequence on the streets of Rome is also a highlight. It features a Fiat being driven down the city’s famous Spanish Steps. 

The cast includes players who can handle physical requirements as well as delivering convincing reads of their scripted lines. Special attention goes to Hayley Atwell as Grace, her highest profile role to date. This movie will bring her to the forefront of movie stardom. 

Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Shea Whigham and Henry Czerny also play major roles. Strong cast!

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is directed by Christopher McQuarrie who also co-wrote it with Erik Jendresen. Rated PG-13. Run time is 2:43.

And, looking ahead… Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two is set to hit theaters on June 28, 2024.