Who can sell an action movie better than Tom Cruise? The answer: Nobody. The evidence: Despite Jack Reacher being described in Lee Child?s novels as a psychically imposing 6?5? one-man gang, Mr. Box Office himself Tom Cruise was cast to play the lead role ? it also helps that Cruise is one of the film?s producers.
The casting choice has drawn the ire of Jack Reacher fans who feel the film?s biggest hurdle would be getting fans to accept the notion of Cruise as Reacher. How could he not pull it off? Cruise is the action star in Hollywood. It?s not like they?re asking Chris Rock to star in a Wilt Chamberlin biopic
What Lee Child?s fans couldn?t predict was the film?s hurdle being the story itself.
An ex- military sniper is arrested after a spree killing that took the lives of five random victims. When Reacher comes in to evaluate the case, all fingers point to the ex-sniper, but Reacher?s instincts tell him something?s not adding up. Reacher , along with the Assistant DA Helen (Rosamund Pike), finds out the shooting wasn?t random and there?s a possibility their shooter is innocent. Reacher and Helen begin an investigation that leads them deeper down the rabbit hole and puts their lives in danger. The two team up with Detective Emerson, played by David Oyelowo giving his best Sidney Poitier impersonation, and cross paths with a Russian Mobster named The Zec who?s played by director Werner Herzog? ? Herzog gives the film?s best performance and steals the show with a speech about how he survived in a Siberian prison.
Despite the film?s cast, none of the characters in Jack Reacher are given anything to do. ?Cruise runs around for 2 hours handing out his own personal brand of justice, putting together clues Sherlock Holmes style, and getting eye-humped by every woman he passes. We?ve seen this done by plenty of action stars in the late 80?s early 90?s, only better. It?s not that Cruise is unable to fill Jack Reacher?s shoes; the film doesn?t provide an opportunity to see if he can. Having watched Cruise onscreen for years, he is Ethan Hunt, Stacee Jaxx, Jerry Maguire, and Maverick ? it?s hard to believe he?s Jack Reacher.
Honestly, it?s not completely his fault. Jack Reacher ineffectively shuffles Cruise through a familiar action movie landscape, to a conclusion that?s obvious 1 hour into the film.
Cruise?s supporting cast doesn?t have much to do either. Helen?s full-time job is getting in the way of everything Reacher is doing while Detective Emerson gives 25 different Sidney Poitier stares to whoever is close by.
The action sequences work, but aren?t too impressive. The car chase was entertaining, but not as cool as the opening scene in Skyfall. The 5-on-1 fight scene was decent, but seemed like an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba compared to the hallway fight scene in Raid: The Redemption. And Reacher?s final showdown with The Zec was less dramatic that Richard Harrow saving Tommy on the last episode of Boardwalk Empire.
The film isn?t a total waste. Herzog?s performance as the The Zec is great. Hopefully this leads to more directors playing villains in movies and we?ll get a chance to see Spielberg as the next Bond villain. Jai Courtney was surprisingly good as The Zec?s baby face henchman Charlie. He gives Charlie a bit of a personality and is one of the few people with a pulse in the film.
Jack Reacher? is entertaining and watchable at times, but the film?s 80?s action movie template may leave you bored.
Grade: C
Source: http://blog.seattlepi.com/peoplescritic/2012/12/21/review-jack-reacher/
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