The Gist:
Jack Reacher (Cruise) is living the life on the road dismantling traffickers and such. His only means of communication is through Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) when she is arrested for treason he takes matters into his own hands.
The Review:
Tom Cruise is back and does what he does best, looking badass and running and boy does he run in this movie, but fear not, he has a running partner in the (anticipated?) sequel that is Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. A few issues do rise with this one however, such as never go back where exactly? Since after all, the only thing Reacher seems to be doing is going back exactly where he’s not supposed to.
Breaking into military headquarters, check, breaking out a military prisoner suspected of treason, check. Where he is not supposed to go back to? Alright so taking it from the top, Tom Cruise at fifty something is still looking as gruff and tough as ever, hell if I look that good when I’m fifty I’m sorted but I digress, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back starts off with a group of guys on the ground this time, already beaten.
A cool opening no doubt but there’s a charm in seeing Cruise mow down his enemies. In the first one that was, here, we get the “Bourne what the hell is happening” style editing during the fights and to be honest, there aren’t that many fights to begin with.
So Smulders is framed, Reacher breaks her out and they’re both fugitives now running from the law. We get a few humorous scenes with the trio acting as some sort of dysfunctional family as they hide in New Orleans from the big bads. Who are the big bads? It doesn’t matter, by the time they are on screen they quickly disappear too. This is Cruise’s movie and while Smulders gets her fair share of screen time and ass kicking, there seriously isn’t much left to it which is a shame.
I mean come on there’s like what, seven eight books in the Jack Reacher series? The film does feel like its lacking, I have heard that they have taken plot points from a few books but come on, with the cast and crew involved this should have been so much better. Now doubt in book format this could have worked but as a film it needed more.
The Verdict:
“No superpowers!” “No magic!” the trailers blasted they forgot to add “And not much else.” Cruise is always a pleasure to watch, his charisma stretches beyond the screen he just needed a better script. Jack Reacher is the epitome of badass, I just hope the other movies will follow through.
No Comments