(Reviewed by our guest critic, The Movie Knight) Tom Cruise (the guy you didn’t count on) returns to the Jack Reacher film series based on the popular books by Lee Child. After Jack receives assistance from Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) in taking down a crooked sheriff, he decides to pay her a visit to thank her properly. However, once he arrives at the base he learns she has been arrested for espionage. He suspects she has been set up, but before he can begin investigating, he is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. The two end up on the run together to get to the bottom of this mystery. To complicate the matter, Jack discovers he may have a 15-year old daughter he never knew he had.
The first Jack Reacher movie, which came out four years ago, was a good mix of both an action flick and a mystery. Those elements are present in this new outing, yet not nearly executed as well. It’s surprising because director Edward Zwick has such credits as Glory and The Last Samurai under his belt. The story, as a whole, lacks fluidity. We feel it right from the start. There are actions scenes, there are chase scenes, accompanied by a chase music score, but we never really get caught up in the action or feel the tension the picture is trying to build.
If this was the first movie in the series, a sequel may not have been made. On the other hand, this is Tom Cruise and he remains a big box office draw. As the year draws to a close, a lot bigger movies will be coming out that are well worth more your money.
1.5 Tiaras