The Cruise/McQuarrie partnership continues to be very fruitful in this excellent seventh outing for a series that now spans getting on for three decades. In spite of numerous production delays owing to the pandemic and the series' evidently fluid and improvisational approach to film-making, Dead Reckoning Part One has a story that more or less makes sense and is consistent throughout the film (even with everybody chasing each other/being chased), the core group of old/new characters are linked effectively to the mythology of the franchise, and the action is simply spectacular, including a bonkers car chase through Rome and a stunning third act train sequence that simply keeps on delivering. Whilst Cruise's contribution cannot be underestimated both on and off screen, old favourites including Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg have plenty to do, and the female characters are genrally well-rounded and integral to the film, with strong performances from Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby and Pom Klementieff. This is proper grown-up Hollywood blockbuster film-making that is engaging (it certainly does not feel like nearly three hours), emotionally satisfying and spectacular. Even if the writers' and actors' strikes delay production further, on this evidence Part Two should be well worth the wait.
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