Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning (2025)

Rating: 6 of 10 Stars

If You're a Longtime Fan of the Franchise, it's Worth Seeing Just to Complete the Saga

First off, I want to thank the ones who gave me the complimentary early screening tickets, that was very kind. I had the chance to catch Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning ahead of its wide release, and while it's always a treat to preview something early, this particular outing left me with some mixed feelings.

Let's start with the obvious: this movie did not age well, and it hasn't even officially released yet. I'm not someone who leans into politics (in fact, I typically avoid it), but even I couldn't help noticing the oddly heavy-handed political undertones. There were clear parallels drawn, perhaps intentionally, to real world figures, like a "what-if" scenario imagining Kamala Harris as president. It felt like a veiled political commentary wrapped in an action blockbuster. Every line written for that character came off as forced, almost as if it were part of a campaign pitch rather than a film script. I wouldn't even bring it up if it didn't make up about a quarter of the entire movie. That said, it was at least unintentionally humorous, like watching a more polished, less inebriated version of a fictional Madam President. There's definitely a wishful thinking sentiment baked into it.

Now, onto the film itself. As far as Mission: Impossible films go, this one falls somewhere in the middle. It was better than some of the earlier entries in the franchise, but it's weighed down by a few glaring issues. Chief among them: the editing. I don't think I've ever experienced scene transitions this jarring. One moment, you're in a snow covered tundra, and the next - bam! - you're in the jungle. The transitions were abrupt to the point of being mentally disorienting. It felt less like a seamless globe-trotting adventure and more like channel surfing between locations.

The action? Fine. The acting? Also fine. Tom Cruise, as always, deserves credit for performing many of his own stunts, which earns the film a few extra points in my book. But overall, it was a "just fine" movie. If I had to rate it, I'd land somewhere around a 6 out of 10, and most of that score is out of respect for Cruise's dedication.

If you're a longtime fan of the franchise, it's worth seeing just to complete the saga. It does try to tie a bow on Ethan Hunt's story, though whether this is truly a "final reckoning" remains to be seen. My guess? We haven't seen the last of him yet.

I am Rae Serbeck, I Watch and Review all Movies Large and Small!