Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Episode Summary

Production Challenges and Franchise Uncertainty

In this episode of Blank Check with Griffin & David, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve deep into the latest installment of the iconic franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. They kick off the discussion by addressing the significant production hurdles that have cast doubt on the future of the series.

Griffin Newman [00:50]:
"There is one singular conflict in the way of there being future Mission Impossible movies is the fact that this film cost $400 million, took five years to film, basically partly for factors beyond their control. The strikes, all this stuff."

David elaborates on the financial strain and logistical nightmares, comparing the situation to the stagnation seen in the Fast and Furious franchise due to Vin Diesel's bottlenecked involvement.

David Sims [01:05]:
"The studio is like, it's gone out of control. And if you want another one, we have a lot of control we want to put on it."

They explore how Tom Cruise’s pivotal role and influence make it nearly impossible to envision future installments without him, emphasizing that Cruise "holds all the cards."

Griffin Newman [01:49]:
"Well, yeah there's no more of these movies without him, right."

Character Dynamics and Performances

The conversation shifts to character arcs and performances within the movie. Marie Barty Salinas expresses discomfort with the episode's opening, which seemingly hints at the film's conclusion right at the start.

Marie Barty Salinas [02:14]:
"We feel very, like, discomfort bobulated that we're talking about the end of the movie at the beginning of the episode."

Griffin and David discuss the return of familiar characters like Luke Davis and the introduction of new talents such as Hannah Waddingham and Ving Rhames. They praise the performances, particularly highlighting Ving Rhames' portrayal of Luther.

David Sims [12:18]:
"The aforementioned Greg Tarzan Davis of Elementary School. Yes."

Plot Structure and Flashback Usage

A significant portion of the discussion critiques the movie's convoluted structure, especially its extensive use of flashbacks. David points out that multiple flashbacks create confusion rather than enhancing the narrative.

David Sims [03:10]:
"The first hour is a total wash. The second hour is okay. The third hour is really good."

They highlight how the movie redundantly revisits past events, leading to a disjointed storytelling experience.

David Sims [43:03]:
"Every scene, you're thinking, what was this supposed to be originally?"

Thematic and Stylistic Critiques

The hosts delve into thematic elements, criticizing the portrayal of the antagonist, the entity, as an emotionless AI lacking depth and motivation.

David Sims [35:00]:
"It's the only thing that you can make them think less of your main character and dislike the person that's making the joke."

They also touch upon the movie's handling of emotional moments, contrasting the impactful death of Ilsa with the less effective portrayal of Luther's demise.

David Sims [76:02]:
"I think he [Rebecca Ferguson] was the secret sauce. How is the rest of the movie not existing in the wake of her death?"

Comparisons to Other Franchise Movies

Griffin and David draw parallels between Mission: Impossible and other franchises like Final Destination, emphasizing how Final Destination maintains suspense through tightly controlled storytelling, a quality they find lacking in the current MI installment.

David Sims [86:00]:
"Look, Fail Safe is literally New York."

Final Thoughts

Concluding the episode, the hosts express mixed feelings about Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. While they praise specific sequences like the submarine and biplane stunts for their execution and thrill, they remain critical of the overall narrative disarray and heavy-handed storytelling techniques.

Griffin Newman [092:18]:
"I'm totally, I think macquarie's a better filmmaker than Abrams. Speaking to this rank me ranking this below three, but three for its flaws and occasional kind of, you know, lens flarey. I can't even see what's going on stuff as Philip Seymour Hoffman."

They also touch upon the future of the franchise, contemplating its potential end or the possibility of branching out into spin-offs to avoid creative stagnation.

David Sims [135:29]:
"I think they just back themselves into a corner where they can't fucking top themselves."

Conclusion

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning serves as both a culmination and a potential turning point for the franchise. Griffin and David provide a comprehensive critique, balancing praise for the film's high-octane action sequences with disappointment over its narrative inconsistencies and over-reliance on flashbacks. This episode offers listeners a thorough analysis, making it valuable for both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.