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Brett praises the enormous ensemble cast—Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), Grace (Haley Atwell), Luther, Benji, Paris, and others—whose interactions contribute to the film’s lengthy runtime of nearly three hours. He notes that lots of characters and subplots, including political figures like the U.S. president and cabinet members, contribute to an overly padded story, which impairs pacing. The opening sequences, filled with flashbacks and intercutting, slow the movie down, giving the impression that the filmmakers are acknowledging that many viewers won’t recall the franchise’s prior installments vividly.