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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

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Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. (Paramount Pictures)
Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. (Paramount Pictures)

What it's about:

Ex-militant Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is on a mission to uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive and trying to escape the law, Reacher uncovers a secret that impacts the mission and potentially his life forever.

What we thought:

Just another typical Tom Cruise action film, with nothing to get too excited about. The film is loaded with action-film stereotypes and cheesy one-liners. After accusations of murder and espionage against Jack, he and his eponymous ex-military investigator and army Major, Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) get chased across Washington D.C. and New Orleans by murderous military contractors with scenes of running and fighting and then some more running and fighting. The film is full of predictable action scenes but lacks any sort of creativity and imagination.

One of director Edward Zwick’s biggest flaws with the film is the terrible overbearing sound design, mixed poorly over the dialogue. The choppy editing also contributes to the film’s failure. Originally adapted from Lee Child’s novel, the dull plot goes nowhere and the viewer is left with a confused tone to whether the film is suppose to be a serious thriller or a light-hearted (with comical elements) on-the-run adventure, but failing at both levels.  

The sentimental twist between Reacher, Turner and 15-year-old tagalong Samantha (Danika Yarosh), who may or may not be Reacher’s daughter, will work on some viewers, but is nothing to write home about. Even without reading the book, you can sense it is as if many parts that should have been there are missing. Some fighting scenes also don’t contribute to the plot and seems as if they are only there for the sake of another action packed fistfight.

Zwick definitely tries to comment on female empowerment in film, by making use of certain subplots and distinctive dialogue scenes, but once again fails to do so when Turner is either completely absent or lags behind in the important action sequences. Similar to action stars such as Liam Neeson, Cruise is another Oscar nominated actor who doesn’t want to go back to do meaningful roles again like old times. So we keep on seeing him in these Mission-Impossible type films. Films with the sole purpose to make him look like the hero.

The film is not a complete disaster and will offer some entertainment, but it is the bland skop, skiet & donner film we’ve all seen a thousand times that isn’t worthy of a trip to the cinemas. I think we can all agree that it might just be time for Tom Cruise to finally lay down the gun.


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