Where's the fun in this?

Rating: 4/10 (11 June 2006)

First let me say I have not seen either "Lost" or "Alias." I've caught maybe a total of five minutes of both shows on the telly. However, that doesn't mean I am not a fan of J.J. Abrams. "Joy Ride" (2001), which he co-wrote, is one of my favorite actions films. It's just a lot of fun.
And that's what seems to be lacking in "Mission: Impossible III." True, the story isn't as cryptic as Brian De Palma's first film in this series, but that really doesn't mean anything to this film. The story apparently just serves as a means to get from one explosion to another. In fact, you could switch the special effects action sequences around and it would not matter a whit.
I have no doubt that Tom Cruise's irritating behavior played a part in how people viewed this film. But Ethan Hunt's just not an interesting person anymore. As a plus, this film does have some stellar supporting players. Philip Seymour Hoffman relishes his role as the despicable Owen Davian. Too bad Abrams didn't see fit to give him more screen time and also provide Owen more time with Ethan. If you really want to see what a poor actor Cruise is, watch Ethan's scenes with Owen. Hoffman makes it look so easy. He acts circles around Cruise and you're awfully tempted to root for Owen against an incredibly dull and tepid Ethan.
Michelle Monaghan is, in my opinion, a wonderful actress. But she's truly just window dressing here, a reason for Cruise to get all intense. You want to see what Monaghan really can do? Watch her in "Winter Solstice" (2004) or, better yet, in last year's "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang."
There is a good cast - too good, in fact, for this film - peppered throughout - Ving Rhames, Keri Russell, a very sexy Maggie Q, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup, Simon Pegg and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. But their roles are relegated to less than minor and they're given little or nothing to work with. This is a Tom Cruise picture - make no mistake about that. Of course, if Cruise were smart, he would've allowed the other, more talented, actors to play bigger roles.
The film's biggest disappointment is that the action sequences have no zip. They're simply one loud explosion after another. There's no fun in them, nothing crazily giddy about them. And they're not inventive. Watch what Shane Black did with "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" and you realize how much fun action sequences can be. But Abrams lacks Black's cleverness and wit. There's nothing cheeky here; everything is handled too seriously. Someone forgot they were making a summer action film.
I don't doubt Abrams' talent. I now just wonder how impressive this film would've been under Joe Carnahan's guidance.