In this film, we get a much clearer sense of who the antagonist is, what they want, and just how far they will go to get what they want. As much as I enjoyed the first film, I always felt the antagonist was a little muddled.
This film almost flawlessly blends the action and heart of the story to give us new insights to the character.Īnother thing that is much improved from the first film is the antagonist.
Not only do we see a side of Reacher with a potential love interest, also introduced is a teenage girl who could potentially be Reacher’s daughter. Thankfully, things are quickly escalated so as the viewer forgets that all it took for Reacher to become involved in a government conspiracy is a potential booty call.Īs the first film depicted Jack Reacher as a guy with a mysterious past, only interested in getting to the truth, Never Go Back really broadens the character and gives him a new depth uncharacteristic of an action hero. As great of a character as Turner is, it is a bit hard to swallow the instigation of a new adventure. Instead of a history that takes place over the series of several books, the interaction between the two is shown on screen for only minutes, which is supposed to make us believe that Reacher is so invested that he needs to visit Turner who he has only spoken to on the phone. This is what happens when they introduce Susan Turner.
One downside to this method is introducing characters that are pivotal to the story that have a history with Reacher. Based on books, each one dealing with a new story, this ensures that we can always pick up the trail of Jack Reacher on the road and join him in a new story no matter how much time passes. The convenient thing about this method is that the stories do not have to be interconnected for them to always work. It is a fitting opening, establishing that Reacher continues to travel from town to town, dispensing justice as he sees fit for the greater good. The film opens at the conclusion of another Jack Reacher story.
Despite this, his role of Jack Reacher is an action powerhouse that manages to entertain with an intriguing story that combines incredible action, mystery, and heart. Jack Reacher Never Go Back marks the return of Tom Cruise in a role that is almost indistinguishable from the plethora of action heroes he has played in the past. With help from Turner and a mysterious new ally, Reacher risks everything to take down the powerful organization that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets.” When Army Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) is framed for treason, Reacher discovers she’s the target of a massive government conspiracy. “Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) returns to enforce his bold brand of justice in “a fun action-packed ride” based on author Lee Child’s best-selling series.