Mission: Impossible II (2000) Review

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Mission: Impossible II follows agent Ethan Hunt, who is tasked with capturing a deadly German virus before it is released by terrorists, in a race against time against a former IMF agent who has already stolen the cure. 

My hesitancy about watching the Mission: Impossible movies was sadly given merit with it’s action packed sequel, exchanging the quiet suspense of the first with explosions, explosions, and even more explosions, in what feels like a dismal attempt at preceding Brosnan’s Die Another Day. Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy brainless action as much as the next, but something about the never ending slow motion, entirely too convoluted plot, and ridiculous set pieces set this film up to be just another shitty “spy” movie. The plot almost demands you be a biochemical disease expert to even remotely understand what’s happening, and that’s made all the worse that it’s antagonist doesn’t seem to understand it either, making all of the bullshit mumbo-jumbo he spouts most of the movie become incoherent under his tough guy facade (which does NOT work). 

That said, judging this from a purely action blockbuster standpoint, it’s all done rather well and it’s obvious Cruise went above and beyond to up his physicality for such a demanding role. Sure, there’s hardly an ounce of genuine spy work, but when it comes to blowing shit up and kicking ass, there’s no question this more than holds its own. 

We get a pretty forgettable cast, starring William Mapother, Rade Serbedzija, John Polson, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh, Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Thandiwe Newton, and Tom Cruise. Cruise (who I will thank for eternity for keeping Scott on here and away from Wolverine), though hamming it up to the max, is still fairly entertaining, which is a nice reprieve from Scott, who is an awfully annoying, petulant man-child. 

Mission: Impossible II, directed by John Woo, is damn near everything I hate about the 2000s spy genre, emphasizing stylized slow motion explosions over a half decent story, confirming many of my wavering doubts about this series 2 movies in. 

4.9/10