Best Mission: Impossible Ever

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2011)

With big shoes to fill, after J.J. Abrams' third installment gave the franchise a fresh kick start, this sequel doesn't shy away from using the same formula: fast-paced and original action, exotic locations, Tom Cruise working his butt off in pretty much every scene, but also adding a lot more humor than the last film had. Long story short: The recipe still works and delivers one of the greatest joyrides of the year.
The action scenes are excellent. Especially the entire Dubai sequence with the incredible money shot at the Burj Kalifa, the highest building in the world, is brilliant. So is the Kremlin hallway scene. But the most pleasant surprise of the film is that it is not (only) the Tom Cruise show, even though his almost death-defying efforts to deliver as many of the stunts as he can is impressive. His comrades are just as awesome. Simon Pegg delivers the clumsy, lovable humor, Paula Patton turns out to be the strongest and most beautiful female of the series and Jeremy "I am currently in every cool film" Renner adds exhilarating adrenaline to the mix.
A fast, exciting, fun thrill ride that doesn't take itself too seriously but delivers the goods in every second and gives James Bond another hard run for his money. Director Brad Bird, specialist for animated films ("The Iron Giant", "The Incredibles", "Ratatouille" ) unexpectedly makes a strong case for being among the top action directors of the moment. Impressive. One of the action highlights of recent years.