‘Ghost Protocol’ helps Cruise

Slick, stylish and ridiculously entertaining, "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" was so good that it almost made me like Tom Cruise again.  Sure, this movie came out over a month ago, but I have yet to see another action blockbuster that even came close.

I'm an action movie junkie, but even I was skeptical when I heard there would be a fourth "Mission Impossible" movie, more than five years after the third one was released.  

Franchises are lucky when the second sequel is any good, but that luck usually runs out by the fourth installment, as seen in the "Saw" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.  Why, then, should anything with Tom Cruise in it succeed?

But then I saw the trailer for "Ghost Protocol," which now has almost 13 million hits on YouTube, and it blew my mind.  Besides using Eminem's bad-ass, pump-up song, "Won't Back Down" featuring Pink, the trailer focused on the film's new ensemble cast. 

Due to Cruise's shaky public image over the past few years (remember that couch-jumping incident?), the studio wisely banked on his supporting cast to bring in audiences.  

Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner brings his gritty cred to the movie, having signed on without even seeing a script. Up-and-comer Paula Patton provides the eye candy that can also kick butt, and man does she look good only five months after giving birth.  

Simon Pegg, best known for his goofy roles in "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz," helps as the obligatory computer geek and source of deadpan comedic relief, who's still handy with a gun. Even Cruise is charming and bad-ass enough to make you forget that he's only 5'7" and believes in aliens.  

While the general premise of the movie lacks originality (someone stole Russian nuclear missile launch codes and plans to attack the U.S.), the concept feels surprisingly fresh and exciting, especially in a genre that's been stalled by other half-hearted CGI disasters.  

"Ghost Protocol" is so relentlessly fast-paced and exciting that I could feel my adrenaline pumping from start to finish. 

The globetrotting locations in Russia, Dubai and India add to the scale of the movie, along with death-defying stunts and gadgets would make even James Bond jealous. 

From a car chase through a desert sandstorm to scaling the world's tallest building with nothing but sticky gloves and a fire hose, Cruise proves that age (49) is just a number.  

"Ghost Protocol" has all the stereotypical  violence, sexiness and high-profile explosions of a blockbuster action movie without being insultingly gratuitous--- a lesson Michael Bay could learn from. 

Offering up the complete package of edge, excitement and energy, but still plenty of humor and heart, this "Mission Impossible" proved to be my favorite of the series.  

"Ghost Protocol" garnered a 93 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but I know to expect nothing less from director Brad Bird, who also directed gems such as "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille" and "The Iron Giant." 

Additionally,  "Ghost Protocol" was produced by J.J. Abrams of "Lost" fame, who was originally slated to direct the film. 

While this movie came in third in the box office during its opening weekend, positive word-of-mouth made it No. 1 for the next two weekends—always an impressive feat during the holiday movie season.  

Now that I've gotten you properly amped up to see it (or to see it again), I have some bad news: "Ghost Protocol" is sadly no longer in theaters and its DVD release date has yet to be announced.  

So until then, you'll just have to content yourself with humming the "Mission Impossible" theme song and doing unnecessary evasive maneuvers down your hallway.  C'mon, I know you want to.