The film opened today and I went to see it. I'll put my review a few lines below.
WARNING - EXTREME SPOILERS!!!! STOP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT KEY PLOT POINTS.
I've really enjoyed this series of films to date because of how much fun they are. Given that the previous MI film, Part 3, is my favourite of the series, I came into this one with high expectations, but I have walked away disappointed. I tried to talk myself into thinking I enjoyed the film, but I just couldn't do it.
It's my least favourite one There were some things in there I liked it, but it's just the least remarkable of the series so far. My biggest gripe is the villain, he's so boring in the sense of lacking any menace, you actually forget about him. I have a few more points, but later on after you've all gone to see it. The strange thing is that it has been getting good reviews, perhaps the best so far for an MI film.
The plot centres around the demise of IMF following a horrific bombing in Russia - the Kremlin. IMF is framed with this and the American Government has no choice but to close down IMF to prevent another World War. On paper, this is a really good plot device and arguably the most adventurous for the franchise so far. The trouble is, we never really experience this. For instance, after the fall of IMF, we still see the team check into the best hotels (in Dubai) wearing the best clothing, carrying the latest technology and armed with just the right amount of weapons. To be fair, some of this equipment breaks down and obviously cannot be replaced. These moments are the most thrilling of the entire film because we see them having to think on their feet. This should have been the starting point of MI4. That is, a naked, vulnerable and humbled shell of IMF going to great lengths to survive. We hardly see any of this.
As discussed above, the worst of the entire series. All we really know about him is his name and that he's a nuclear extremist. Again, like the plot, a very worthy device for this film and seems great on paper. But we never get to experience just how extreme the guy is. No quotes, barely any screen time and lacking a lot of context. Compare this to Phillip Seymour Hoffman, you can't help it feel let down by MI4.
As for the team, I was pretty happy with them, but I kept asking myself, "where's Ving Rhames?" He's there, just in a totally pointless 30 second cameo in the end. WTF?! But, I like the team they had. A little too much comedy from Simon Pegg, but other than that, pretty decent.
As for Tom Cruise, easily his most uninspired and tired performance in the series to date. MI3 saw a pretty rounded performance from Cruise. It had the emotion, he was the tough guy when he needed to be plus he also had just the right amount of charm for the audience to like him without overselling him. Here, he's either pissed off or depressed.
It's not a bad film per se. There is some fun to be had but it's nowhere the standard of the previous films. It's hardly a night out but definitely a worthy night in for when it gets its home release. I own the trilogy so far, I don't think i'll buy this one. If I do, i'll wait for the sales specials.
2.5 out of 5