a5c7b9f00b Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.
After accomplishing the assignment of dismantling a human trafficking organization, the former military and drifter Jack Reacher goes to Washington to invite his liaison, Major Susan Turner, to have dinner with him. However, he meets her substitute, Colonel Sam Morgan, who explains that Major Turner has been arrested and accused of espionage. Jack seeks out her veteran lawyer, Colonel Bob Moorcroft, who explains that Major Turner has also been accused of the murders of two soldiers in Afghanistan. Further, he also tells Jack he is being sued, accused by a woman of being the father of her fifteen year-old daughter, Samantha. When Moorcroft is murdered, Jack is accused of being the killer and sent to a prison. He sees that Turner and he have been framed and also that Turner will be killed by two assassins. However, he rescues her and they flee. Soon, they realize that there is a conspiracy involving military people from the army and a government contractor that is a powerful arms dealer. Jack also learns that Samantha is in danger and Turner and he rescue her. They decide to protect her since a skilled assassin is hunting them down while they try to find the motive of the conspiracy. Who can be trusted?
A usually charismatic presence that gives his all no matter the cause, I truly can't recall a time when I've seen acting superstar Tom Cruise looking as bored and tired as he does here, in the sequel nobody asked for and one you wish you never went back for, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.<br/><br/>2012's Jack Reacher didn't exactly set the world on fire, but the big screen incarnation of Lee Child's continually popular creation was a fine thriller, with some above average set pieces and production values so there was quiet optimism that new director Ed Zwick (I demand to know what has happened to the man that gave us The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond?) and returning star Cruise could at least capture that mid-level success Christopher McQuarrie's film did but alas, it was not to be.<br/><br/>A terribly unexciting affair that sees Reacher spend more time with his potential teenage daughter and uninteresting potential love interest Major Turner (played devoid of charisma by Cobie Smulders) as they fight bland baddies and try to discover the what's what of a shady military murder, Zwick fails to capture any of the excitement of the Reacher brand and for a big budgeted thriller that could easily provide thrills and spills, this lacklustre experience is something not even Cruise on the best form of his life would've been able to save.<br/><br/>Feeling like a more downtrodden and less interesting version of his Mission Impossible loving Ethan Hunt, Cruise was a stoic if unmemorable Reacher in the series first instalment but here he has become nothing more than a passenger wandering through his own aimless journey and for perhaps the first time, Cruise the action guru feels slightly too old and hampered to be what we need him to be here and maybe a decade or so ago Cruise may've enlivened the sub-par material on offer here but at current face value, it's too much for the veteran to do and his upcoming films like this year's Mummy reboot will be needing much more from this movie maverick to succeed.<br/><br/>Final Say – <br/><br/>After a disappointing run at cinemas and lukewarm at best reviews, it seems as though we may in fact never be going back to this once potentially decent series and this lame, tired and genuinely unengaging Jack Reacher adventure will likely not even be a film those many dedicated fans of Lee Child's creation can enjoy.<br/><br/>1 ½ salt shakers out of 5
When Jack Reacher learns that one of his former colleagues Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) has been arrested for espionage Reacher takes it upon himself to rescue Turner (despite her advising him against doing this). It turns out that there is a wider conspiracy involving a company called Para-Source and Reacher and Turner must get to the bottom of who Para-Source are and why they want Turner dead? Matters are further complicated when Reacher finds himself with some rather unexpected baggage...<br/><br/>I enjoyed the first Jack Reacher film (in spite of the fact that it offered very little that I hadn't seen before). It was fast-paced, entertaining whilst also offering a fairly decent storyline. I really wanted to like the sequel, but just couldn't quite warm to it in the same way that I could with the first film...<br/><br/>Part of the problem with this sequel lies with the story and no matter how much it tries it simply isn't as involving or engaging as it was in the first film. Despite the fact that this film runs slightly shorter than the original it actually felt much longer. The original film suffered slightly with poor character development and underdeveloped villains. This film has the same problems only they are worse in this sequel. Robert Knepper is on villain duties as normal, but he's only featured in a couple of scenes and isn't given the opportunity to make any real impression on the picture. The story is also a little weak and if I'm totally honest a little uninteresting. <br/><br/>In this sequel, Reacher also discovers that he may have a daughter and finds himself having to protect the girl who he believes may be his daughter as well as exposing the truth about Para-Source. I presume that the potential 'daughter' may have been introduced to show a different side to Reacher and perhaps to give him a back story, but truth be told it didn't feel entirely necessary and in all honesty it's a strand of the story that I didn't much care for.<br/><br/>Having said all that, the film isn't all bad and does still have some impressive action sequences and some of the chase scenes towards the end are moderately exciting and entertaining. However, as I've said the story is weak and uninvolving, the supporting cast don't make much of an impression leaving the action sequences being the only thing worth watching in this film.<br/><br/>One other thing; how did the hit-man manage to get to New Orleans before Reacher and Co when they left for New Orleans before him? Unless Para-Source are sending their hit-men by private jet in order to carry out their hits? <br/><br/>Yes it's sloppy, largely uninvolving and weak in comparison to the first film. However, when the focus is on the action then it rarely disappoints. It's not great, but it's just about watchable I suppose.
Cruise’s undeniable star power is all that keeps “Never Go Back” from feeling like it came off a studio assembly line, though you’ll still spend most of the movie wondering if you’ve been swindled into watching a movie about Ethan Hunt’s luddite twin brother.