Jack Reacher lags in action

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime

Director: Edward Zwick

Cast: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge and Danika Yarosh

Being screened at QFX Cinemas

The action star Tom Cruise is back in action. This time he is back as Jack Reacher, who is a former United States Army Military Police Major. And he is belting out some action moves in a plot that is to do with his government where some of the men are involved in illegal weapons buying and selling, while some good people lose their lives or are wrongly charged and put behind bars. But Reacher springs to action to bring justice to these good people and send the bad ones to where they belong.

There is nothing exciting and thrilling about Jack Reacher: Never Go Back as an action film while its storyline sounds familiar. This is a typical Tom Cruise action film but we have seen his better action films with good storyline. Here, he is just tagging along with the tag of action hero as he spreads his wings to another franchise of an action hero. In this case, it is as Jack Reacher.

Reacher is a drifter. He is lending his helping hands to Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) to catch bad guys. When he comes to visit her in the military unit, he is informed that Turner has been accused of espionage, opening up another adventure for Reacher. Moreover, he has 15-year-old Samantha (Danika Yarosh) to take care of who is believed to be his daughter.

Cruise is more intense in the film. He has delivered what he has to in terms of action as well as emotions. There is no doubt about it. And accompanying him in the action is Smulders. Seeing her kick around is a treat to the eyes. But her character doesn’t shine much — she is just a female sidekick to Reacher for women empowerment. On the other hand, Yarosh gives what she has and she is good in it. Her relationship with Reacher lends a human touch to the film.

The trio give a kick to your watch as long as you watch. But Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is no spectacular action film. You know the basic story line. Directed by Edward Zwick in linear narration, the film is fast-paced and this is what will make you sit through the film along with the action even though it is not great. One watch is enough if you have decided to watch it.