The behemoth of average action movies

Rating: 4/10 (22 July 2000)

This movie was one of the most hyped of the year, so perhaps that was why, on leaving the cinema, I was considering how appalling it was. The acting was reasonably convincing, which probably threw the whole saga an enormous lifeline, but the plot and stunts were ridiculous. Director John Woo slowed every stunt down to slow-motion, which was annoying the first time and inane from then on. Woo did bring some memorable set-pieces to the movie that will probably be spoofed time and time again, but these gains were bombed out of the water by the most ridiculous script I have ever seen.
The plot was lifted straight out of a Bond movie, except that this film had none of what makes James Bond such an engrossing action hero. Dramatic stunts are supposed to astound the audience, not make them mutter, "yeah right," under their breath. Why did the whole story revolve around face masks (a rip off of "Face/Off," surely?). Why does the IMF have to shoot missiles at Cruise while he's scaling cliffs? Why does a truck, after smashing into and destroying a car, keep on driving? Why is one of Cruise's assistants prevented from escaping from a bomb because some small wires gnaw at his coat? Why does Cruise wait so long to destroy the last sample of Crimera? I was laughing at this film because, despite its gloss and its questionable Bond-by-numbers format, its essence (perhaps apart from the rock-esque soundtrack) was farcical.
To be fair to M:I-2, the actors were pretty much top-notch. Cruise obviously fitted the role well seeing as the whole movie seemed to be made for him, but Dougray Scott and newcomer Thandie Newton (who was, sadly, reduced to portraying a stereotypical "damsel in distress") were both excellent. Sir Anthony Hopkins added his unique talent too, and grabbed the best line in the movie: when Cruise complains that Naya is untrained and shouldn't go with him on his mission, Hopkins replies, "To go to bed with a man and lie to him? She's a woman; she's got all the training she needs." But the characters managed at least to interact with one another, which counts for a lot in action movies were it is usually only the most muscular or robotic actors who are allowed in.
So, some fine actors let down by miserable direction and some appalling goofs and plot holes as large as the Black Hole of Calcutta. That is what "Mission: Impossible 2" is. This movie is worth seeing simply because of what it is, but if you're looking for something with sophistication, humour and a touch of class, don't bother. This only manages a feeble 4 out of 10.