Today’s quick review: Mission: Impossible II. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), one of the IMF’s top agents, cuts his vacation short for a mission that could save the world. Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), a rogue IMF agent, has stolen the antidote to the Chimera virus from the scientist who developed it. With the virus itself, Ambrose will be able to trigger an epidemic that only he has the ability to cure. To get close to Ambrose, Ethan must recruit Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton), a high-class thief who was once Ambrose’s lover. Ethan is joined once again by Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), an IMF agent with a knack for computers and one of Ethan’s closest friends.
Mission: Impossible II is a spy action thriller and the second film in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Although an enjoyable watch, it is the weakest entry in the series so far. It lacks the intrigue of the first film or the strong character interactions of the later films, leaving only big stunts and Ethan’s spy antics to draw the audience in. The spy parts of the film are a touch more cartoonish than usual, with high-speed chases down winding mountain roads and slow motion martial arts showdowns. But the film has plenty of action, the action has plenty of flash, and Tom Cruise has the twinkle in his eye that makes him such an effective protagonist.
Watch Mission: Impossible II if you are in the mood for a light action film with little in the way of story. Fans of the series will not be impressed by the movie, but those who are in it for the action will be satisfied. Mission: Impossible II has less going on than its siblings, but that still makes it an enjoyable watch with impressive stunts, shocking reversals, and reasonable plot by action movie standards. For a popcorn flick, Mission: Impossible II is a very good choice.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for big stunts and a thrilling if shallow plot.