Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs

Downs...

3. The Bloated Runtime

Dead Reckoning Part One is by far the longest entry into the Mission: Impossible franchise at a hefty 163 minutes, and while Fallout might've left you thinking that it simply isn't possible for these movies to be too long, this follow-up unfortunately proves otherwise.

This is a film that would've absolutely benefited from 20-or-so minutes being cleaved away, and it's so painfully obvious where the cuts could be made.

The script is so aggressively awash in overbearing expository dialogue, often reiterating the same point two or three times to ensure the cheap seats are keeping up, and several of the set-pieces - even the more entertaining ones - might've benefitted from a less-is-more approach.

The series' signature propulsive pacing feels rather lacking this time around, perhaps in part because Dead Reckoning Part One touts the most complex narrative of the franchise and juggles a cast of characters that can easily rival the Fast and the Furious films.

As a result this is ultimately an overstuffed meal that's enjoyable as a whole, but also continues Hollywood's infuriating recent trend of pushing blockbusters close to the three-hour mark.