Wick's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back improves on the 2012 origin movie by locating its story within the military world from which Reacher sprang and by limiting the ultra violence.¹ That said, Tom Cruise and his supporting cast are somewhat less impressive this time out, nor is the dialog as snap-crackly as before.

All in all, Jack Reacher 2 is a fine action flick and a good time at the movies. Bring on Jack Reacher 3!
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¹ The first Jack Reacher flick felt less like a movie and more like a mongo TV pilot, one sporting superstar charisma, huge production values and enough sociopathic violence to sicken half the country.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Tom Cruise has another strong franchise going here. Never mind that the diminutive moviestar isn’t the physically overwhelming character from Lee Child’s novels. Cruise is a credible badass, even if he still evinces more likability than malevolence. The guy is a simply one of the greatest leading men of all time.

Competent Supporting Cast

• Cobie Smulders has become a credible moviestar in her own right, though she seems to have hit her ceiling as a supporting character.
• Aldis Hodge is suitably serious and purposeful as a JAG officer.
• Danika Yarosh is reasonably impressive as a wayward teenager.
• Patrick Heusinger disappoints as the main villain, a deficit that holds the movie back from greatness.
• Holt McCallany is sufficiently slimy as a corrupt Army officer.
• Lee Child cameos as a TSA agent. Who’s Lee Child? The author of the Jack Reacher novels, which makes these appearance the Stan Lee cameos for the Jack Reacher crowd.

Film - Very Good 3.5

Edward Zwick is slumming a bit directing a formulaic action pic like Jack Reacher 2. Maybe he owed Tom Cruise a favor or something.

Edge - Risqué 2.5

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is significantly less edgy than the first movie, making it easier to enjoy.

Reality - Supernatural 3.2

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