Can We Finally Admit That The ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movies Are All Style, No Substance?

Despite the film being titled Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, this might not be the last ride for Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt after all.

No one wants to say it’s over in case fans clamor for more from this nearly 30-year-old film series. Money talks, so consider this “retirement” to be about as conclusive as one in professional wrestling. (Spoiler alert: no one stays gone for good.)

Take nothing away from the franchise. It’s produced over $4 billion at the box office, become a staple part of cinema history, and even surpassed the original ’60s series to establish itself as the quintessential adaptation. Yet, let’s make something perfectly clear here: Mission: Impossible is about as deep as the first step in a swimming pool. It’s all style, no substance.

‘Mission: Impossible’ pushes the boundaries of stunts

Every film, it’s the same-old story. There’s a major disaster, and Ethan Hunt and his team need to save the day. Ethan doesn’t like following the rules, though, so he puts himself in perilous situations that leave the audience gasping in disbelief – especially knowing that Tom Cruise loves to do his own stunts and most of what he’s doing is dangerously real. 

Let’s give credit where credit is due: Mission: Impossible pushes the boundaries of action setpieces. Every film features a bigger sequence than before, and Cruise puts his health and safety on the line to entertain the viewers. In an age where everything is CGI and more artificial than a takeaway burger, this is a rare franchise that still values mostly practical effects over computer wizardry.

This franchise is a rollercoaster, literally

That said, Mission: Impossible is a lot like a theme park ride. There might be a flimsy backstory announced as the ride takes off, but no one is paying attention to any of it. Instead, they’re fully invested in the excitement factor and the emotions stirred by the twists and turns. Once it’s over, people will talk about it, then forget about the ride until they revisit it the next year.

Still, don’t believe it? That’s okay – let’s try something here. What’s the story of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol? Had to think about that for a moment, didn’t you? The average viewer won’t remember what the film is about, but be certain that they’ll know it’s the movie where Ethan climbs the Burj Khalifa in a death-defying sequence. The fact that even the trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is supposed to be a culmination of all these stories, features montages of the stunt scenes rather than the stories proves that the audience is locked in for one thing, and one thing only: action.

Ethan Hunt is no James Bond

Tom Cruise remains an incredible actor. While many people think it’s his name value that precedes his talent, that couldn’t be a more inaccurate statement. Watch Collateral, Tropic Thunder, and Interview with the Vampire to witness his dynamic range as a performer. He disappears into roles and deserves to be celebrated for his contributions to cinema.

Yet, his character Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible is all about what he does rather than who he is. There have been attempts to paint him as a different type of action hero, and Bright Lights Film Journal‘s Vlad Dima wrote a fascinating and thought-provoking analysis about Ethan’s quest to become the perfect man, but the fact is this: Ethan isn’t as interesting as James Bond or Jason Bourne. 

Take away the breathtaking stunts from Ethan and what’s left? Not much, really. He isn’t a character who you’re dying to know more about, or to see his relationships with others. Instead, you’re tuning in to see what he climbs or jumps off next. Sure, Cruise injects his natural charisma into the character – and he’s far from unwatchable – but the name Ethan Hunt doesn’t hold as much value as Mission: Impossible, whereas Bond and Bourne are their own institutions.

Will the audience miss ‘Mission: Impossible’?

While it’s unlikely to be the end, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning looks set to kick off a hiatus for the franchise. That will be the real test about Mission: Impossible‘s worth, and if people start demanding a new film after a few years. At the same time, we need to ask why the audience wants it – is it because they miss the characters and story or the action scenes? Honestly, it’s probably the latter, because let’s face it: Mission: Impossible is the Fast & Furious of the spy genre. It’s style over substance every single time.