Triumph of style over substance - but what style

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2000)

When I saw the original Brian de Palma `Mission: Impossible' in 1996, I found the plot confusing but the action sequences thrilling  and I especially enjoyed the Prague locations (because I know the city so well). In the case of `M:I 2', there is very little plot, but  thanks to director John Woo (`Broken Arrow' and `Face/Off') - the action scenes are even more explosive and even more visceral with some superb stunts and a pounding soundtrack. I could have done without the repeated use of a particular prosthetics trick, but the thrilling final bike chase sequence is vintage Woo and worth the admission price alone.
This time round, we have a very different Tom Cruise as Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt: he looks different, with his long hair flaying all over the place; he fights differently, displaying flying drop kicks at every opportunity; and he feels differently, almost immediately falling in love. Cruise can act, as we know from `Magnolia', but here his thespian talents are not really needed, but then the guy did do virtually all his own stunts and he was co-producer, so I suppose he deserves his rumoured 30% share of the profits.
I would like to have seen half British half Zimbabwean Thandie Newton (`Beloved'), as both the agent and the villain's love interest, given a more physically resourceful role and the great Anthony Hopkins is sadly underused  although he does have the best lines  as the head of the IMF. At least the Scottish Dougray Scott is suitably chilling as the renegade with an original use for his cigar cutter.
The critics have been pretty cynical about this movie  `More Tom foolery with Mr Cruise' and `Cruising on empty' were just two of the British headlines  but, when I saw the film on its opening weekend at the largest cinema in London (the Empire Leicester Square), every performance that evening was sold out and, at the end of my showing, the audience actually applauded. Sure, it's a triumph of style over performance  but what style. And, if you've had a tough week at work (as I had), it's a terrific antidote.