Strictly formulaic but plenty of surprise and thrills

Rating: 7/10 (28 July 2018)

This fifth installment opens to one of the most thrilling pre-credit sequences of not just the film series but the action genre entire. There is no substitute for live action stunts and Cruise's determination to make the film do what it says on the tin - the impossible - is laudable.
Simon Pegg is back in a larger supporting role as chatterbox analyst. He provides much of the humour, gluing Cruise's death defying escapes and scrapes together so things don't become too serious. Dressed-to-Kill British agent Rebecca Ferguson provides the athleticism and beauty and steals not only Cruise's gizmos but also some of his scenes. Sean H's villain is suitably quirky and menacing and guides the tension in climactic scenes.
There are a few false notes, namely that an Austran Chancellor seems less important than the British PM. The sequence at a Viennese opera resembles Quantum of Solace's right down to the detail..
All in all, a good action-adventure with thrilling motorcycle sequences and death defying aerial stunts, and on those elements its hard to say which is the better, Rogue Nation or its sequel.