adamgehrke.com

Disassembled by C.I.A. Director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) the Impossible Mission Force is forced to reckon with a mysterious Syndicate of evil operatives bent on gaining political and strategic power globally. Now, Ethan (Tom Cruise), Benji (Simon Pegg), Will Brandt (Jeremy Renner), and Luther (Ving Rhames) will have to outsmart, out muscle, and outplay their toughest chess master yet, Lane (Sean Harris). But what’s the connection to the British Prime Minister (Tom Hollander) and the mysterious femme fatal Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson)? Directed and partially written by Christopher McQuarrie all the requisite parts of your standard Impossible Mission film are present; however, a revived sense of freshness is unfortunately absent. For all of the film’s clever setup, its final bowtie feels all too convenient and tidy. Along the way to the finish line a loss of suspense falls into place; and, while thrills, chills, and spills aim to dazzle the end result is a relative shoulder shrug, you knew it had to go down this way. Still, a crash boom bang orchestra of action worthy of at least a matinee. This review will self destruct in 5 seconds. Mission: Impossible– Rogue Nation is rated PG-13.

It’s been over 30 years since Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) led his family, including son Rusty (Ed Helms), on a pilgrimage to Wally World theme park for a family vacation. In an effort to mix things up and add some spice to the annual family vacation Rusty has the idea to relive the classic Griswold road trip, this time with wife Debbie (Christina Applegate), and sons James and Kevin (Styler Gisondo, and Steele Stebbins); but, will this Griswold family trip be as ill fated as other historic Griswold vacations? With a handful of nods to the Griswold family lore Director writers John Francis Daley and Jon Goldstein have a lot to live up to, taking a much beloved American road trip film and attempting to match it’s comedic caliber pound for pound– hard to do. Unfortunately, the laugh quotient just isn’t here, often leaning too heavily on gags from 30 years ago; and, rather than forging new territory, the film stays within a safe zone which doesn’t prove terribly memorable. Sure there are chuckles, but truly laugh out loud moments seem strained. More of a rental, but really more skip worthy. Vacation mildly overstays it’s welcome at 99 minutes of rated R runtime.