Mission: Impossible II is pure, glorious swagger, and I mean that as a compliment.
If you loved the twisty spy puzzle of the first movie, brace yourself. Brian De Palma made a film about paranoia and double-crosses. John Woo made one about sunglasses, slow motion, and Tom Cruise looking cool on a motorcycle. Accept that trade and you’re in for a blast.
The story is simple. Ethan Hunt has to stop Sean Ambrose, a rogue agent, from selling a deadly virus called Chimera. To get close, he recruits Nyah, a thief who happens to be Ambrose’s ex. The plot is thin, but it moves fast and gets you to the good stuff.
And the good stuff is great. The motorbike chase near the end is one of the best action scenes of its era, and knowing Cruise did much of the riding himself only makes it better. The gunfights move like dances. Everything is shiny, sunny, and set against gorgeous Spanish scenery.
Thandie Newton is the secret weapon. She’s funny and tough, and her spark with Cruise keeps Nyah from ever feeling like “the girlfriend.” Dougray Scott plays Ambrose so smug you’re itching to watch him lose. Ving Rhames brings his usual warmth as Luther, and I’m always happy to see him.
Yes, the romance gets cheesy, and some slow-motion shots linger a beat too long. I didn’t care. When a white dove flutters out of the smoke right before Ethan walks into the fight, you either roll your eyes or grin like an idiot. I grinned.
Want a puzzle? Rewatch the first one. Want Tom Cruise, a motorcycle, and a dove in slow motion? This is big, loud, and a whole lot of fun.
See Mission: Impossible II on TMDB
