Film Review - Jack Reacher: Never Go Back(2016)

What does it take for the king of Hollywood to impress us every time he comes back with a vengeance? How on earth does Mr Cruise maintain his huge Hollywood status despite his obscurity and personal life? It is simply due to the fact that he is a man of confidence, charisma and charm. He knows when to push the right buttons be it an extreme mainstream blockbuster like the MI franchise, or a Sci-Fi action like ‘Edge of Tomorrow.’ He plays his cards wisely and revisits a character that we have accepted to be fond of in this Jack Reacher sequel with the subheading Never Go Back. This simply implies never go back to his roots of being a well respected Major, considering his troubled past.

Investigator Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) springs into action after the arrest of Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), an Army major accused of treason. Suspecting foul play, Jack embarks on a mission to prove that the head of his old unit is innocent. After crossing paths with the law, Reacher must now prepare to hit hard and strike back to uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy that involves the death of U.S. soldiers. In that course of action, Reacher also learns that he may have a fifteen year old daughter he has never met, played by ‘Heroes Reborn’ actor Danika Yarosh. She actually wins the audience over in the role of Samantha Dayton. She’s young, she’s new blood to the Hollywood scene and is not afraid to give it her all as she works along Tom Cruise in where she learns combat moves that structures to a great climax in the end just like ‘The Karate Kid’s’ crane technique.

What truly stands out of the film is Cobie Smulders as Cruise’s sidekick or partner in crime in the eyes of the Government conspirators. She’s stunning, sturdy and a perfect heroine playing Reacher’s potential love interest. Smulders has truly stepped up her game moving away from her ing role as Maria Hill in ‘The Avengers’ franchise by literally starring alongside Cruise. Jack Reacher has beyond doubt opened the doors for her in Hollywood A-List territory. Let’s hope she’s willing to walk through it. Cruise makes wise decisions to discover new talent as well as evolve it with the two ing ladies: Smulders and Yarosh.

Jack Reacher has true western genre pastiches especially in the opening scene where a corrupt sheriff walks into a diner to arrest Reacher, only to find the tables will turn on the sheriff. Then the film explores the familiar territory of good old fashioned action and drama. It doesn’t go over the top with huge costly stunts, but more rather takes a step back to explore good characterisation and the actions hits hard with discreet, but effortless direction from Edward Zwick, reuniting with Cruise from ‘The Last Samurai.’ The fight scenes are excellent and Cruise enjoys playing the tough ex-major as he uses his combat army skills with excellent choreography.

To use the subplot of the possible daughter of Jack Reacher provides a clichéd notion when the villain/hunter assassin played by the ruthless Patrick Heusinger will use her as bait to bring Reacher down. But will the villains beat our protagonist is the question? It’s all predictable but enjoyable to watch and a worthy sequel to the predecessor. At times, one can compare this to ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’ when we see the ruthless hunter embark on every form of capture and combat for Reacher as he tries to protect the two leading ladies from the so called hunter. The hunter can easily be compared to the T-1000 as he never backs down, but although Reacher should ‘Never Go Back’ he does, which is what makes this film entertaining and enthralling. Thanks once again Tom for sustaining your invaluable capability to impress us with your grandiose films.