The "Mission: Impossible" series is the rare Hollywood franchise where each new film somehow manages to top the last. But in the year 2000, the series hit a slight critical bump when John Woo took over for Brian De Palma and delivered what is still the only Rotten entry in the lucrative franchise. Was it the early millennium nu-metal soundtrack featuring Limp Bizkit and Uncle Kracker? Was it the Oakley-sponsored lineup of tragic choices in eye-wear? Was it the slow motion Flamenco dance? The doves? The Iko-Iko remix?? Okay, granted some of these things are *not* great, but that's part of the film's endurance! Besides being the only certified Nu-Metal entry in the franchise, "Mission: Impossible II" is the only sequel that values vibes more than a twisty narrative, putting it more in line with Michael Mann's similarly maligned 2006 adaptation of "Miami Vice."

We're joined by critic, comedian and co-host of the Bad Romance Podcast, Jourdain Searles, to unpack the sequel, as well as the rare on-screen chemistry Cruise shared with co-star Thandiwe Newton and why critics were not horny enough in the early 2000s. We also discuss important cultural topics like: Are British capable of being funny and when are we going to start sexualizing men the way we did in the 80s and 90s?

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