An entertaining fourth instalment

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2014)

This; the fourth in the Mission Impossible franchise opens with protagonist Ethan Hunt in a Russian prison; he isn't there long though as former tech-guy Benji, now a field agent, helps him escape. Once out he joins Benji and new character Jane Carter and learns their new mission they must break into the Kremlin to steal the launch codes to Russian nuclear missiles before terrorist Kurt Hendricks can get them and use them. Unfortunately they are too late and the team are blamed for an explosion caused by Hendricks. After such an incident the president activates the 'Ghost Protocol'; not just the team but the whole of IMF are disavowed. They are helped out of Moscow by the IMF Secretary and follow Hendricks first to Dubai then to Bombay in an attempt to stop him launching the missiles that could start the Third World War!
Each of the films in the series is quite different and this is probably the most comic despite the serious subject matter. That isn't to say there isn't enough action; there is plenty of over-the-top spectacular action including seeing Tom Cruise climbing up the outside of the Burj Khalifa, many fights, chases and shootouts. It is a pity that regular team member Ving Rhames only appeared in a brief cameo but Simon Pegg unsurprisingly provided so good laughs and Paula Patten and Jeremy Renner handled the action well. The story wasn't deep but it served to provide an excuse to visit some spectacular locations and show us some exciting set pieces. Overall this is a fun film with plenty of excitement; there is also little to offend so it can be enjoyed by all but younger children.