Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol

Rating: 4/5

You know, I've never had a problem with Tom Cruise as an actor. Sure his personal life has involved some zany public events. But does that negate the quality of his performances in films like Jerry Maguire and Tropic Thunder? I certainly don't think so. Plus I actually enjoy the Mission: Impossible movies in the same way I enjoy Rambo 4 or Commando. Plus plus, Brad Bird, who directed The Incredibles and Ratatouille, also did this film. Simply put, it works really well.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back after six months in Russian prison with a new assignment to take out a Swedish nuclear terrorist. While gathering intel on baddy from the Kremlin, Ethan falls for a trap that leads to the IMF being framed for bombing the building. As a result, Ghost Protocol is activated and the entire IMF is disavowed. Now Ethan, his team (Simon Pegg & Paula Patton), an analyst with a dark past (Jeremy Renner), and a train car full of gadgets have to save the day.

The only way I can really describe Ghost Protocol is to quote my dad: it's a cartoon. I use that quote in the most endearing way possible. Yes the movie is akin to a cartoon, but a badass one like Transformers, not Ben 10. But I digress. Ghost Protocol is a good old-fashioned action movie that I'm surprised came out in December of all times. The story and script are just silly enough, the cast is great, and of course, Brad Bird does an amazing job.

But a Mission: Impossible movie is nothing without spectacular action and stunts is it? Rest easy dear reader, because Ghost Protocol has both in spades. The aforementioned topics are both very creative and exciting; each outdoes the last and I spent many parts on the edge of my seat with my teeth clenched. The gadgets are also awesome and not totally unbelievable like in some other spy movies. It really is a blast to watch.

Besides a bizarre opening credits sequence that reveals the entire movie (seriously it's really weird), Ghost Protocol is a ton of fun. I was never bored, never thought it was too silly, and enjoyed myself all the way through. The only time I fell out of the atmosphere of the movie was a couple moments of spectacularly bad acting from Paula Patton. Other than that I had a great time. Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol is funny, exciting, badass, etc.