Mission Accomplished.

Rating: 7/10 (17 May 2012)

Anyone having seen prior installments of Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible" series would have simple expectations for "Ghost Protocol". Despite the redundancy of both the 2nd and 3rd installments, all of the films, in varying degrees, have managed to satisfy my desire for smart action and minimal interruption. After renting "Ghost Protocol" via my cable provider, my only regret is not having paid the extra $5 to see it on the big screen.
There are few surprises, which ultimately is a good thing; nobody really wants a proved formula to be messed with too much, no matter what they say. That's not to say that specific formulas are immune to the dregs of repetitive redundancy, of course. This film's saving grace is undoubtedly the amount of time that came between it and the last installment in the series.
The film itself builds in predictable fashion, into a rather "safe" plot line. In it, an evil man with an evil henchman attempt to bring about the end of the world in typical fashion (nuclear devastation), and the only people who can do anything about it are Ethan Hawk (Cruise) and his unlikely but strong supporting cast. A cast that brings a dose of comedy relief and bumbling technical prowess (Simon Pegg), a capable woman who's as gorgeous as she is dangerous (Paula Patton) and a mysterious, unproven asset (Jeremy Renner) who is thrown into the mix rather abruptly, to say the least. The casting was well done, as those who spend the most time on screen command the camera and show both their ability to manage both action and the occasional dose of suspense-building narrative.
"Ghost Protocol" rarely lets up, letting the viewer catch his breath in predictable spots as the film unfolds in a manner that leaves you expecting twists and turns and getting them, just perhaps not in the order and/or fashion you thought you saw coming. This combination of fast-paced intensity and subtle, but satisfying reveals and climaxes are the meat and potatoes of Cruise's impossible missions, and not since the original has one of them hit the mark like "Ghost Protocol". As long as you're not expecting more than the previous installments offered, you won't be disappointed with this mission.