MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Should you bring the kids? No! If the PG-13 rating was mainly for action, I could see bringing kids 10 and older. But this movie has disturbing images with Tom Cruise's on-screen wife being kidnapped and a gun held to her head. Even age 13 is stretching it. I wouldn't recommend this movie for kids younger than 15. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.

THE STORY: In this third installment of the TV show-turned-movie franchise, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) comes out of his comfy, safe job of training agents and goes back into the field to save a captured agent (Keri Russell). Backing Hunt is the crack team of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF): computer expert Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Irish transportation expert Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and the versatile and glamorous Zhen (Maggie Q). Laurence Fishburne plays Agency director John Brassel, and Billy Crudup plays Hunt's new boss, John Musgrave.

The bad guy – and he's REALLY bad – is Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a sadistic monster who sells high-end weapons to terrorists on the black market. In a daring plot to stop Davian's world-destruction plans, Hunt tracks him down and, following the plot of the first MI movie, tries to uncover a mole working inside the IMF. Meanwhile, his new wife, Julia (Michelle Monaghan) is kidnapped. Saving the woman he loves AND the world? All in a day's work for Ethan Hunt.

THE WRAP-UP: Ok, so maybe Tom Cruise IS a little crazy. Aren't we all? The good thing is, he's channeling his insanity into this action-packed thriller, and it's a great kick-off to the summer blockbuster season. The minute you hear that familiar MI music, you know you're in for a wild ride, and this movie delivers on all counts.

Directed by J.J. Abrams (the creator of "Lost" and "Alias"), this movie harks back to the best aspects of the original TV series – a well-connected team of agents, a bold and heroic leader, some kick-ass stunts (done, as usual, by Cruise himself), and a twisty-turny plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

What sets this movie apart from the first two is that this one goes into the relationships among the IMF agents. Sure, it's first and foremost an action flick, but it's also a story about love and friendship. And if you think YOU have trouble balancing work and home life, try being a secret agent for a day.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): This movie is waaaayyyy too intense for preschoolers, so don't even think about taking them! For some preschool-friendly adventure, pop in a DVD of The Backyardigans, Nick Jr.'s animated series about five high-spirited preschoolers who rely on their vivid imaginations for fun. In "Secret Mission" (on "The Snow Fort" DVD), the team negotiates booby traps in a treasure museum, all to the beat of the tango and limbo.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): The PG-13 rating says it all: "intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images, and some sensuality." Not the best fare for grade-schoolers, even older ones. More appropriate are the "Spy Kids" or "Agent Cody Banks" movies. Or even "The Incredibles," for some animated secret agent fun.

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): For teenagers (15 and older!) who love action thrillers, this one delivers ten times over – tons of wild stunts, high-tech gadgets, and explosions of every shape and size. And, of course, blood, sweat and tears galore. It also boasts a hip new version of the MI theme by hip-hop mogul Kanye West.

SCORE: 3 out of 4 Reels

Jane's Reel Rating System:
One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.
Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels: Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

Read my other reviews here.