MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000) / ** 1/2
Directed by John Woo. Screenplay by Robert Towne, from a story by Brannon Braga and Robert D Moore, based on the television series by Bruce Geller. Starring Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton. Running time: 125 minutes. Rated PG for mild language by the MFCB. Reviewed on May 26th, 2000.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
When the original movie version of "Mission: Impossible" was released in 1996, there was little doubt that a sequel would soon follow. The film provided the perfect framework for a long-running franchise in the form of the international espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force. Not only did the use of this multi-purpose organization provide reasonable breadth of storytelling, but it meant future films weren't contingent on a recurring cast. Sequels could always use a different IMF if need be. Even the star, Tom Cruise, could be replaced in a manner rather more palatable than, say, the revolving door Batmans of the past decade.
Of course, for "Mission: Impossible 2", only the first option has been employed. Cruise does indeed return to reprise his role as Ethan Hunt, one of the IMF's top agents. Hunt, once again, is a cool, poised man of action, possessing a seemingly endless array of skills. But unlike the first "Mission: Impossible", which cast Hunt in the role of a desperate agent abandoned by his organization, little is really done with Cruise's character in this sequel. Character development is slim to none, and a romance with a fellow agent feels lifted out of a James Bond picture. There is an unsatisfying sense of stagnation to Ethan in "MI2"; it's almost as if scriptwriter Robert Towne is taking a page from the "Mission: Impossible" TV series in limiting Hunt's evolution. The problem is that this is a feature film, not a television programme. It's fine for TV characters to develop slowly, because with twenty-two episodes a year they have the time. A movie franchise which only churns out a new installment every few years cannot afford the same luxury.
The same problem plagues the other holdover from the first film, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames). Stickell was engaging in "Mission: Impossible"; here he's shoehorned into the background, often isolated even from the other IMF agents. Stickell could just as easily have been replaced with a totally new character without damaging the film, and as a result his return here feels almost token. The third member of this version of Hunt's team, Billy Baird (John Polson) is similarly faceless; even Emilio Estevez's short-lived agent in the first film was more interesting than this guy.
The same cannot quite be said of the last of our heroes, Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton). A world-class thief, we first encounter Nyah in action trying to steal a valuable necklace, and it makes for one of the movie's most watchable scenes. Nyah is a promising character -- neither a typical damsel-in-distress nor some kind of uber-confident goddess. Unfortunately, that potential gets lost in the movie's second half, in which Newton has far less screen time. It's also regrettable that Nyah's role in the proceedings means that she rarely gets to demonstrate her skills; the script mostly just calls for her to stand around and look vaguely nervous. Nonetheless, I would enjoy seeing the character return, in a more proactive role, in future "Mission: Impossible" films.
This time around, the team has been assembled to investigate the disappearance of the mysterious genetically-engineered Chimera virus and its antidote, Bellorophon. These have been stolen by a rogue IMF agent named Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott, who does a good job of acting evil but can conjure no other personality traits from the character) posing as Hunt himself. Ambrose and his goons intend to auction off Chimera and Bellorophon to the highest bidder. New IMF recruit Nyah is also Ambrose's former lover, putting her in a unique position to get close to him and give Hunt and his team a chance to reclaim the stolen goods.
The plot of the original "Mission: Impossible" was criticised by some for being too labyrinthine, although I enjoyed the complexity and intrigue it offered. The sequel goes too far the other way. This is all standard spy stuff -- viruses, high-stakes auctions, jilted ex-lovers -- and the "rogue agent" subplot has been overused of late, in everything from "GoldenEye" to, indeed, the first "Mission: Impossible"!
And this isn't the only element of the movie that feels lifted from its predecessor. Remember that terrific scene with Tom Cruise dangling inches above a pressure-sensitive floor? Well, something similar occurs here, albeit with none of the tension or flair of the original. Indeed, "MI2" is sadly lacking in invention and suspense, with many of the action scenes being just routine material. There is little of the twisting and turning which characterised the first film. There, when a character's secrets were revealed they were astounding; here, they're easily predicted.
It is fortunate, then, that "Mission: Impossible 2" has renowned director John Woo at its helm. Woo knows how to inject some much-needed adrenaline into the picture, employing some creative action shots which only slightly overuse slow-motion effects. Even Woo cannot save the tedious and overlong middle third of the movie. But he is in fine form during the closing half hour, pumping up the tempo with an entertaining motorcycle chase and a heart-pounding hand-to-hand duel between Hunt and Ambrose. Also an asset is a fine multifaceted score by Hans Zimmer.
But ultimately, it's hard to shake the feeling that "Mission: Impossible 2" is mostly an exercise in sound and fury. And while this is certainly nothing new for a summer blockbuster, I at least demand something with a bit of originality for my entertainment dollar. "MI2" just doesn't offer that; it seems content to just be adequate, relying on the memory of the superior first movie (and of course Cruise's star power) to fill the seats.
"MI2" isn't a bad film, but it is a poor sibling to the first "Mission: Impossible". That movie was fun consistently, this one only in flashes. I would not be dismayed if a third film in the series were to go into production. But I hope any such project will strive to bring some freshness and invention to the franchise. With "Mission: Impossible 2", complacency has already set in.
Copyright © 2000 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies/MissionImpossible2.html
-- _______________________________________________________________________ / Shannon Patrick Sullivan | "We are all in the gutter, but some of us \ | shannon@mun.ca | are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde | \___________________________|__________________________________________/ | Popcorn Gallery Movie Reviews www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html | | Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time (Travel) /drwho.html |
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