Jack Reacher: Never Go Back: Formulaic, but Tom thrills
In this sequel to 2012’s action thriller Jack Reacher, Tom Cruise re-teams with 'The Last Samurai' director Edward Zwick, to reprise the titular ex-military hero who must uncover the truth behind a major conspiracy in order to clear his name, and reconnect with long lost family.
The 2012 adaptation of Lee Child's best-selling series saw writer/director Christopher McQuarrie casting the venerable Werner Herzog as Reacher's adversary.
This time around, the villain is The Enemy Within, a corrupt canker (Robert Knepper) ensconced in the highest echelons.
His henchmen frame Reacher for murders, the viewer knows out hero did not commit even as he tries to meet old flame Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), only to find that she’s been falsely arrested for treason. Firm in the belief she is innocent, Reacher frees her in a thrilling series of set pieces while the script gives the lady, she of the smouldering good looks, the chance to vent her feminist spleen on the double standards in the military. But I say, what about outside? And not just in the US of A.
A sub-plot about a young girl named Samantha (Danika Yarosh) who may or may not be closely related to Reacher also gives this secondary, but pivotal character, a chance to spout some interesting dialogue on how some bad asses redeem themselves by thinking of the sisters they never had.
No such luck where Reacher's vicious antagonist (Patrick Heusinger) also exmilitary, is concerned.
As stories go, the plot about avaricious military contractors peddling stolen arms has been done to death. But then, Never Go Back redeems itself with exciting gunfights and nail-biting chases, the penultimate one in a Halloween parade in the streets of New Orleans. No voodoo mumbo jumbo.
Formulaic the film may be, but verily I say unto thee: Tom Cruise still thrills.