Jack Reacher will win no awards. Nor will any of its spawn from which Cruise
hopes, I’m sure, to make additional millions. The movie is based on one of Lee
Child’s seventeen crime novels featuring the Jack Reacher character and plays out,
in form, like a good but throwaway piece of pulp fiction. Now I have not read
any of the 17 Reacher books. Can’t tell you if they’re any good or not. But Jack
Reacher the movie is, well… pretty run of the mill as crime thrillers go. I’m
not saying that’s all bad. A good hot dog is pretty common. There’s usually a
good ball game on cable when you want…not too special. But I like those things. Seeing
Reacher is like biting into a cheap deli’s piece of apple pie… I enjoy it, but it
won’t end up in a diary entry.
People get shot in Jack Reacher right off the bat. Five people murdered, at random, via a
sniper’s rifle. Former military sniper James Barr (Joseph Sikora) is picked up
for the deed on the basis of some slick, insightful detective work by lead
detective Emerson (David Oyelowo). The evidence is substantial and Barr is
pressured to write his confession in light of the air tight case built against
him. His response is to scribble a single instruction: "Get Jack
Reacher."
But who is Jack
Reacher? No one has a clue at first. A little research by the DA’s office
uncovers that Reacher is an ex-Army cop (military detective): a very, very
good, and highly decorated one at that (of course). Their problem is that he
unceremoniously walked away from his impressive military career several years
ago never to be heard of again. Dropped out, disappeared… no drivers license,
no bank account, no known place of residence, and no way to be found. To their
surprise, however, Reacher shows up on his own. Seems Jack knows Barr. Back in
Iraq, in their Army days, Reacher tried unsuccessfully to put him away for
shooting four military contractors… just because he wanted to. Jack has
appeared now, as he describes, to make sure that the shooter gets his due this
time. But if Barr were guilty, why would he ask his cop-nemesis for help? Reacher soon finds
things are not what they seem.
The setup to this
point is interesting enough. But the movie eventually sacrifices plot and
character depth for the lower common denominator of its ilk - crime action
mayhem. The best of this genre will give you both, but here the motivation for
why people are doing what they’re doing is flimsy at best, hastily contrived
and presented to keep the hero snarling and shooting. That said, the movie is well-dressed
and fun to watch; lifted a bit above average by a top-notch cast and excellent
delivery.
Like him or not,
Cruise usually delivers and does again here as the mysterious loner, reluctantly
returning to the hypocrisy of the “free” world to right a wrong. Of course, he
has more skills than any human being is allowed to have and is nigh impervious
to danger and its consequences, but what the heck. A feel-good casting award is
in order for reuniting Cruise with Robert Duvall, who plays an
ex-marine and owner of a shooting range frequented by the alleged killer Barr. Their eventual partnership is ludicrous but the silliness is successfully
overshadowed by Duvall’s mastery to play crusty and the fun the two seem to be
having together. Reacher also
features one of the best car chase scenes I’ve seen in years, incorporating
some fine vintage muscle cars. Jack Reacher
is bit ordinary; yes. But I don’t think you’ll be asking for your money back.
Just don’t hold the bar to high when you go see this one and you’ll be fine. Reacher gets a 6 out of 10. - Pat L.
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