Movie Review: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.

Let me start off by saying that I love spy-action movies. Love them. I was raised on the Jack Ryan novels and Bond movies. I love Bourne and Mission Impossible both. I enjoyed Ghost Protocol and similarly enjoyed Rogue Nation.

That being said, action-spy movies often leave a LOT to be desired on the representation front. Bondgirls die, characters of color are few and far between and I cannot, honestly cannot, bring to mind a single confirmed LGBT character.

Rogue Nation, as a popcorn munching summer flick, delivers. The plot is the same basic Mission Impossible plot (the government says ‘spies what spies NO ETHAN NO’, Ethan says ‘fuck you all I’m going to save the day’ and at the end of the film Ethan is reaffirmed as the spy world’s darling and saves the day while looking cool and blowing shit up). But the plot is solid as is the casting, old favorites reappear and a new femme fatale brushes up against the cast. The bad guy reminded me a little too much of Raoul Silva, but I’ll let it slide. Rogue Spy gone ROGUE is as good a plot as any.

The fight scenes were good and the chase scenes were way more believable than the last Fast and Furious movie.

That being said, if you have any motorcycle crash related trauma there are LOTS AND LOTS of motorcycle crashes in one of the chase scenes. Other than that, standard action movie triggers apply.

The Bechdel:

Hah. There aren’t even two named women in the whole fucking movie.

I hate girl on girl fight scenes that exist ONLY for a chance to get the girl to fight but they at least allow for the role of two women existing in the same frame. Possibly even speaking to each other. Our femme fatale keeps it real, fights the big boys, and despite wearing 4 inch heels kicks them off when necessary. She does not, however, throw down with any other ladies.

Racial Bechdel Test:

Again. There aren’t two named characters of color in the whole movie. Ving Rhames is there as Luthor Stickler, and is an important part of the crew, but at no point does he speak to anyone who isn’t a white guy.

The Mako Mori:

I’d say that Ilsa’s story arc is her own but at the same time she’s spending the movie fighting against the big bad that Hunt is trying to bring down.

The Sexy Lamp:

Nah. Ilsa might be attractive and they do show that off but I don’t think a sexy lamp can kick ass or have a showdown with the Bone Doctor like Ilsa.

The Anti-Freeze:

Surprisingly, no. At one point in the movie I was expecting her death but she gets out of every scrape intact.

The “Strength is Relative”:

I’d say a pass but it’s debatable.

The Russo: LGBT representation

Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Haha.

The Black Widow: Romantic relationship that serves the plot/is in character

While Ilsa falls for Ethan (or at least implies a romantic wish) it fits her character, runs along the plot and doesn’t derail or take anything away from the film.