I wasn’t planning on seeing the latest “Mission: Impossible” movie in protest to Tom Cruise’s lunacy. But when I was offered tickets to a free sneak preview of the film, I couldn’t resist. Not because of Tom, mind you, but because I would have hated to miss director J.J. Abrams’ latest venture into top secret missions.

In this latest “Mission: Impossible” film, Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, a member of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). Rather than heading the missions IMF embarks upon, as in the past, Hunt now trains young recruits who will one day head into the field. Along with this major life change, Hunt has found love with Julia (Michelle Monaghan) and is enjoying a more relaxed life. Julia believes her fiance is with the Department of Transportation.

When his IMF contact John Musgrave (Billy Crudup) informs Hunt that one of his trainees has been compromised in the field and needs rescuing, Hunt makes the tumultuous decision to suit up and head back into the line of fire.
In an action packed sequence of fire-fights, helicopters and even a jump from an eight story building, Hunt’s team goes in to rescue Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell).

Of course, that’s just in the first 30 minutes of the film. Someone in IMF is working with the bad guys (again), but can Hunt discover who is betraying him before the bad guys take him (or his lovely Julia) out?

Cruise is back in full force with the type of film that suits him best. He gets to run fast (which he does remarkably well- see the movie and you’ll know what I’m talking about), shoot big guns, leap tall buildings (okay, maybe not quite) and be the blockbuster movie star that he is. If Cruise would let J.J. Abrams write what he says off screen as well as on, he would be in much better shape.

Of course, even Abrams (who is the co-writer of “M:I III”) can’t sound cool all the time. While laying on top of a security wall in Vatican City, Hunt apparently gets the urge to recite nursery rhymes when out of the blue he says “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.” An apparent attempt at being funny that fails to hit the mark.

The supporting cast is plentiful and deep with big names like Laurence Fishburne as IMF director, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the bad guy, Crudup, Russell, Maggie Q, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ving Rhames who is back as Luther Strickell. Each member of the supporting cast adds to the film in such a way that it would be hard to imagine the movie without them in it.

But it is J.J. Abrams who is the real reason to go see “Mission: Impossible III.” His talent extends far beyond that of director. He has produced numerous hits as the writer of movies like “Armageddon,” “Forever Young,” “Regarding Henry” as well as the screenplay for “M:I III.” He is the creator of the popular television shows “Felicity” (which starred “M:I III’s” Russell), CIA thriller “Alias” (which ends its run this month), and the very popular drama “Lost.” Many people have said that this “M:I” film is the closest to the television show, and I would agree. It’s fun and it allows viewers to see all the intricate details behind tasks that should, in fact, be impossible. One such scene has Cruise and company sneaking into Vatican City to kidnap the bad guy along with his terroristic weapons. Abrams gets the audience to feel suspense through a high paced sequence of well planned movements and techy tricks including the ever popular “M:I” method of dressing up like your target and tricking people into thinking you’re him. This “Mission: Impossible” also gives the audience a story to follow, with moments outside of the IMF world along with the blow ‘em up action sequences.

“Mission: Impossible III” delivers everything it said it would in the pre-release buzz, which rarely happens anymore. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come at the summer box office. Regardless of how you feel about Cruise, you won’t be disappointed if you choose to accept this “Mission.”

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