Mission Impossible 3 Parent Guide

If you were to ask a marriage councilor, he’d likely tell you that honesty is an essential ingredient for a long and healthy relationship. However, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) doesn’t seek such professional advice, nor is he willing to listen to the warning voices of his fellow agents at IMF. Instead, the former spy (he now works only as a trainer for new recruits) decides to follow his heart, get engaged and just not mention to his fiancé Julia (Michelle Monaghan) what it was he really used to do for a living.

Yet before the happy couple has even finished welcoming the guests at their announcement party, Ethan gets an emergency phone call from the office. Almost pleadingly, his ex-boss John Musgrave (Billy Crudup) asks him to come out of retirement to help rescue Lindsey (Kerri Russell), a colleague and friend who has been taken captive by a ruthless arms dealer named Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Of course Ethan chooses to accept this mission, and is soon back in the field with a team of multi-talented operatives that include Luther Strickell (Ving Rhames) the artillery guy, Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) the transportation expert, and Zhen (Maggie Q) the sexy technology whiz. And just as predictably, things don’t go as smoothly as planned, especially when a rather unlucky “rabbit’s foot” is thrown into the works.

As the case becomes more complicated, Ethan and the gang find themselves in trouble with the top brass back home (Laurence Fishburne), working without IMF’s permission, and putting the life of the unaware Julia in jeopardy.

All of the above provide excellent opportunities for heart-stopping action, intricate espionage efforts, car and helicopter chases, gunfire exchanges, depictions of bodies riddled with bullets, elaborate explosions, death threats, acts of torture… and some horrible little explosive device that is shot up a nostril into the sinus cavity.

For as over-the top as the stunts and antics are, Mission: Impossible III can’t be faulted in its delivery of edge-of-your-seat entertainment. Surprisingly, the script is light on sexual and language content, with just an implied live-in relationship, some innuendo, and a character shown rather under-dressed in an over-dressed gown, as well as a few mild to moderate profanities. The biggest concern for family viewers will be the ceaseless situations of peril and violence. But unlike the naive bride-to be, this fact should be no secret to potential ticket buyers.

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Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.