Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning takes place in year 1 after Dead Reckoning, the first film in the franchise after Henry Cavill – yes, we miss him. However, for those who don't appreciate melee combat in men's restrooms, it's primarily the seventh and, in theory, penultimate installment in the saga. Unless it continues without Tom Cruise. A story in two parts, the second of which, The Final Reckoning, arrives in theaters on May 21. And for those who no longer remember the feature film released in summer 2023, we'll recap it for you right here, right now. Here we go, Ethan!
Yes, there will be detail and humor, because 150 minutes.
Part 1: Under the Ocean
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning opens in the depths of the Bering Sea with the saga's theme playing in the background, in case anyone confuses it with The Hunt for Red October. The Russian submarine Sevastopol is testing a new artificial intelligence. A technology that goes beyond their expectations since the craft has approached all the enemy fleets without being detected by Aquaman.
The Sevastopol suddenly picks up the signal of an enemy submarine that is moving strangely and seems to be watching them. Faced with an imminent attack, the Russians decide to show who is dominant by launching their torpedo. Unfortunately, this was all a ploy by Skynet, sorry, artificial intelligence, to sink his house, rest easy at the bottom of the water, undetectable, and begin his conquest of the world.
Part 2: Your mission, should you choose to accept it...
We find Ethan Hunt in Amsterdam, testing the future agents of the Mission: Impossible force by playing hide-and-seek. Then, an audio recording reminds us that it's been almost thirty years since the first film came out and that doesn't make anyone any younger, especially not Tom Cruise. A flashback sequence makes us understand that the future antagonist (Esai Morales) is responsible for the death of Hunt's first (in a long line) girlfriend and his arrival within the agency. Life is crazy.
Anyway, regarding the mission, Ethan must find a two-part key – which happens to be the same one that allows access to the heart of the AI mentioned above, but our hero doesn't know that. He is politely asked not to ask any questions and that Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) would have already collected half of it.
In the middle of the desert, he finds Faust who continues to steal the show in every scene since the fifth installment. They fight with mercenaries and Ilsa seems to kick the bucket. On the side of the American security agencies, they agree to call the AI "The Entity", to take stock of its capabilities, its autonomy and the danger it represents. The phrase "I will return" is uttered and we appreciate the reference to Terminator. Power calling to power, everyone begins to think that destroying The Entity is good, controlling it is better, like all the other countries. To do this, they need the famous key. Except that Ethan doesn't agree and declares that he will destroy The Entity, turning the whole world against him. Oh, and Faust's pipe is still intact.
The traditional credits unveil the rest of the film with the wick and the theme. Tin Tin, Tin Tin Tin...
Part 3: Catwoman
Abu Dhabi Airport. American agents are on the scene to get their hands on Ethan and are talking about putting a stake through his heart. Interview with the Vampire fans. First scene of Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames), the Ethan family, with an explanation of the plan: a sale of half of the key is to take place and the buyer is hoped to get the other half. Once everyone is together, the buyer is followed to understand how the key works, recover it, and destroy The Entity. Easy as a Thursday.
Except that the buyer's little one gets his little one stolen by Grace, a thief played by Hayley Atwell. Ethan catches her, performs a magic trick, and recruits her to put the object back in its place. But with the help of The Entity, she double-crosses him. We're treated to the first "Tom Cruise on the run" sequence.
Rome. Grace is arrested by the police following American intelligence. The Entity's human agent is in the house, as is Ethan. A chase through the streets of Rome where everyone is chasing everyone else. And if you think you can't fool someone 1,000 times, Grace is tricking Ethan again. Off to Venice with the team and Ilsa.
Part 4: Death in Venice
Ethan must infiltrate a ball organized by the White Widow (Vanessa Kirby), queen of the black market we met in the previous episode. Grace will be there with the key, as will the emissary of The Entity, aka Gabriel, the man from the flashback at the beginning of the film. Hunt begins to worry that he is being manipulated by the AI, which seems to anticipate his every move. The Ilsa/Ethan relationship stops being only hinted at.
The good guys, the American agents, the bad guys, and Pom Klementieff (who has great makeup) gather at the small party. Vanessa Kirby (The Widow/Alanna) enters the scene to announce that she has the second half of the key. The mall to whom should have the item, but Gabriel plays his alpha male role by announcing the future death of Grace or Ilsa, before going elsewhere to see if he was there. Everyone escapes from the party. Tom Cruise runs, part 2. The Entity imitates Benji to make Ethan take the tourist route, who finds himself having to face Pom while Ilsa and Grace fight against Gabriel.
And then, the drama begins. For the needs of the script and/or by the desires of a star who doesn't like to be overshadowed, following a really bad duel against a less than charismatic antagonist, Rebecca Ferguson leaves the scene. A (not) terrible loss for Ethan who, fortunately, will soon show us that life goes on.
Part 5: Murder on the Orient Express
Grace FINALLY agrees to follow Ethan and help the team after he swears eternal loyalty to her without divorce. Luther announces his departure into isolation so he can track down The Entity. Our former thief will have to infiltrate the train under the guise of the Widow. Gabriel and Pom are also there. We also meet the American agents, always in the right place at the right time, but as useful as a VCR in 2025. Hunt, for his part, must perform his famous motorcycle stunt to board the train and the rest of the cast buys time to allow him to shine.
Grace takes the Widow's place, retrieves the second half of the key and manages to fool the bodyguard who has been following her for years and who doesn't notice that her blue eyes have turned brown. The buyer the Widow was supposed to meet on the train is none other than Kittridge, the head of the CIA.
Pom, whose name is Paris in the film (a French actress, you don't have to look too far), gets in touch with the head of American intelligence so that Gabriel can retrieve the complete key once Kittridge has bought it. We learn that the AI was placed in the Sevastopol by the Americans to spy on the Russians, but it rebelled. However, the location of the submarine's sinking is known. The head of intelligence wants to sign an alliance with The Entity to rule the world. So many twists and turns in a few minutes. Gabriel kills him so he can take the location to his grave. He also tries to eliminate Paris, because he knows she will betray him, Ethan having spared him earlier. He fails, but seriously wounds her (we rewound the scene several times and we still don't understand how since he loses his weapon, anyway).
Grace/Alanna refuses the money, steals the key, but is caught by the bodyguard. Ethan arrives at the right time to make her fall in love and forget Ilsa. Each with their own mission: Hunt must stop Gabriel, who has retrieved the object, and Grace must stop the train. A rooftop brawl ensues with the superhero's clear dominance, while government agents discover Kittridge and begin to suspect that the merchandise is being deceived. They catch Ethan, allowing Gabriel to escape and activate the destruction of a bridge further up. Finally, everyone collaborates to save the passengers, even Paris, the traitor, who seems to be kicking the bucket. Hunt leaves with the key, finally discovers its purpose, and Grace joins the CIA.
Will Ethan Hunt succeed in stopping Gabriel and The Entity? Will Grace still be in love with him? The answer will be announced on May 21 in Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
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