Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

The Flick: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

The Peeps: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyquist, Josh Holloway, etc.

The Dealio: When a seemingly simple hand-off goes sideways and agents are killed, and explosives cause international repercussions, the MI team is forced to go asset-free and come to a resolution on their own. As always, should the team be captured or killed, the State department will disavow yadda-yadda-yadda. Is there even a nano-second when you think that Ethan Hunt (Cruise) will not accept the gig? I mean, we've all seen him dangling off the tippy-top of the tallest building in the world, right? And we know that this was not just a pledge-prank, right? Okay then. You have got the gist.

The Grading Session: 4.29 pengies out of 5. Story takes a second seat to the non-stop action- and it does pay off, keeping us interested and involved. But, seriously, the minor players (Pegg and Renner especially) steal the scenes they share with Cruise- and with The Building. You get what you expected here. Nothing more. Nothing less. And, really, is that such a bad way to spend a few hours over the hols? I think not, but your mileage may vary.

Lessons Learned: Do not get distracted by a pretty face when working a hand-off. Also- no one is ever exactly what they seem. Look deeply before deciding on your next move. Lastly- Cruise, apparently, has absolutely no fear of heights. Or blue screen.

Notable Quotables: Benji, explaining the tack-glove: 'Blue is glue.' Ethan: 'And red?' Benji: 'Dead'.