Jack Reacher Reviews

formulaic and predictable, but never an idiotic run-of-the-mill action movie of the week, a rather well written and correctly paced old school thriller similar (although miles away) to what Peter Yates, Don Siegel and Walter Hill did for the genre, unpretentious and solid entertainment.

Good action movie and Cruise isn't that annoying.

Adapted from a novel I know nothing about and a writer I've never heard of, but I did take the liberty of reading up on what to expect. Thing is the director of this film clearly hasn't done the same. Now from what I learned the main character in these books, 'Reacher', is 6'5'' tall, built like a brick shithouse, blonde hair, pretty fit, pretty muscular, piercing blue eyes, weighs around 250 pounds and has many battle scars. For this someone thought it a good idea to cast Tom Cruise, yeah...of course.

According to Wiki Childs (novelist) decided that Reacher's huge frame what more a metaphor for an unstoppable force. Yeah sounds like you're backtracking there matey, just to get Cruise on board, should of cast an unknown.

An atrocity is committed, five people are senselessly killed by a lone sniper, someone is dragged in as a suspect and 'Jack Reacher' is the man asked for. From here on its pretty much a standard murder mystery 'who dunnit?', in fact you could say its like 'Sherlock Holmes' if he went around beating people half to death.

This really has to be the biggest anti climax I've seen for some time. The films poster boldly shows Cruise's battered face (nothing else, as usual), the whole image is dark, brooding and clearly trying to give the impression he's a tough no nonsense kinda guy. Then when you watch the film all you get is Cruise...being Cruise, but attempting to be the strong silent type whilst at the same time being a wisecracking smartass, it just doesn't work.

The story is slowish but mainly just very very average, there isn't really anything in the film that got me excited or had me on the edge of my seat. You know the guy they capture at the start isn't the killer for fudges sake! you know he's been set up, its clear as day, it shows you!! (that's not even a spoiler!) the only question is who did do it and why? but its not really that much of big deal anyway. The whole thing plods along being very bland and highly uneventful. Oh and they show you the killer at the start too pfft! not much left.

We do get a car chase and one sequence where Cruise is up against five guys in a car park. Thing is Cruise doesn't look intimidating at all and the five guys should really just beat him down rather quickly. Duvall pops up in role which feels completely pointless seeing as Cruise is always invincible and the finale with the bad guys is again completely unexciting. You think there's gonna be some really good retribution...nope, there isn't.

Maybe I'm being too hard? its not a bad film, its well made and looks good, its just utterly flat, almost boring. Unsure if Cruise made himself 'Reacher' or it was horrendous casting but either way not a good decision. The plot is standard, the action is standard, we clearly see how short Cruise actually is in a few shots, there is a truly terrible sequence where some guys try to beat Cruise but it all ends up like a 'Three Stooges' sequence and generally on the whole it felt like an episode of some random US cop drama (choose, there are loads of em! and they're all the same).

The film is ONLY as big as it is because of Cruise being in the lead role, simple as that. Other than that its a run of the mill film, two hours with Tom Cruise and not much else.

More than often comes off as a vanity project for Cruise but I digress, as a standalone mystery thriller or franchise starter it's not bad at all. It's almost like a modern take on Noir storytelling.

The problem really lies in the fact that it's not inherently good either. There isn't anything about the premise, characters or execution that sticks out from the norm. Sure the plot itself is intricate enough to keep the viewer guessing but the delivery of it all...

More than often I wanted to reach out and inject some more charisma or "edge" into the film, without a defining style it will ultimately be forgotten in a sea of crime thrillers.

Try as I might, I just can't dislike Tom Cruise. His personal private life is a mess of scientology, divorce and just nutty behavior, but the guy still delivers the goods. When it comes to roles like this, Cruise can almost do them in his sleep (2010's "Knight and Day" is mostly forgettable but fun example). Jack Reacher seems like a perfect Tom Cruise vehicle, he's tough, smart, likeable and a little bit unstable.

When an ex-army sniper goes on a shooting spree, the one name he asks for once in custody is Jack Reacher. The evidence against him seems over-whelming, and after being attacked by fellow inmates, he's put in a coma that seems to close the case for the time being. When Jack Reacher arrives on the scene, he suspects things aren't what they seem. It's up to him and the attractive D.A.'s daughter (Rosamund Pike) to do the impossible and prove the man's innocence.

Jack Reacher is an interesting character and the film is a well-written action thriller. The plot keeps you guessing and there are car chases, guns and fight scenes. It's interesting that critics are so enthusiastic about Skyfall, the latest Bond film, and yet are lukewarm towards this one, which I found to be more entertaining. Perhaps, Cruise' name is just too tainted from his off-screen exploits. It's a shame, because Jack Reacher is a lot of fun.

"Jack Reacher" is a very good mystery film that works and feels just like a pulp crime novel (fitting since it is based on one). Tom Cruise is in fine form here, proving once again to be one of the most effortlessly charismatic actors around. The film itself is quality entertainment, providing an ample amount of twists, thrills, and melee-focused combat. Sure, It runs a little too long, but it's hard to find much fault in such a solid, well-written 90s style thriller.

I was surprised -- I didn't expect it to be so much of a mystery movie instead of a balls-to-the-wall action flick like the trailers made it out to be. Sadly, that's where all the surprises comes to a screeching halt. "Jack Reacher"'s a film that -- yes, is very formulaic -- does everything without delivering the goods of a formulaic flick. It's entertaining, I'll give it that, but it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, nor does it try to add flavor to the cards it's dealt with (except for one scene).

I don't know too much about the details of its production, but all I know is that it's based off a series of books on a character named Jack Reacher. I don't mind that Tom Cruise doesn't fit the physical build of what Reacher was described to be, or if it follows the book to the T -- I just mind if this is a good movie or not, and for the most part, it failed to deliver a narrative worthy enough to be written (based off of the movie of course). It goes somewhere along the lines of Reacher, a badass who takes the law-by-the-balls with no sensitivity for upholders, finding the hardline truths behind a homicide scene. From here, the film takes the linear route of point A to B, which I don't mind at all. It's not a character-study; it's not a compelling art-house flick with idiosyncratic shots; this is a mystery-thriller. Hey, as long as this journey to point B is a palpable journey for the audience members, I'm all ears. Unfortunately, "Jack Reacher" -- though entertaining for its action sequences -- is a generic mystery movie with flatline characters at best -- so flat in fact, that it makes me wonder why Jack Reacher is such a compelling character worthy enough to have a book series lined up for him. I understand that these are merely problems from this movie itself and not the books.

I get it: Jack Reacher is a bad ass. Omg, Tom Cruise is such a bad ass. Why's he so baaad? He makes me tremble in fear before him... NOT. "Jack Reacher" falls under the same problem "John Q" had: the characters on-screen talk too much about how Reacher is a force to be reckoned with. How 'bout show the audience how he's such a "ghost" that stays off the grid? How 'bout show the audience his unique skill to take anybody out and how he is a reckless outlaw fixated on doing his own thing? Unfortunately, the problem is because the script is mediocre and Tom Cruise doesn't bring enough to make the character, Jack Reacher, the interesting character he's made out to be. Cruise does a fine enough performance, but he's merely playing himself. What I'm trying to say is that I watched Tom Cruise kick ass -- not Jack Reacher. But hey, I'm not making Tom Cruise the punching bag here -- the rest of the cast fails to bring flair to their characters, especially David Oyelowo who played as the detective named Emerson.

As for the technical aspects, it does the bare minimum. Camerawork shows what's going on and the editing is fine. What's not fine is the dialogue. Wow, some jokes fall way flat with some of the worst one-liners from recent memory. It's not that the delivery was bad, but it's just that the humor is way too silly for its cause.

I'm tearing "Jack Reacher" a new butthole, but I've gotta hand it something: The car chase scene and the shooting sequences are done superbly with incredible crane shots. There's no fast editing to hide the blemishes and in fact, it was breathtaking to see all the stunts were not done by a stunt-double look-alike for Tom Cruise -- it was literally Tom Cruise behind the wheel. These sequences aren't afraid to slow down and take a breath nor is it trying to shove down explosions in your throat -- it just manages to carry a good amount of tension to make it an entertaining set-piece to help "Jack Reacher" stand out just a bit from the rest of the generic action flicks.

No matter how great the action set-pieces are, it isn't enough to call "Jack Reacher" an above-average thriller. There's just too many problems to claim and though it seemed like I tore this film apart, it's merely an average movie and an average movie gets a 2 1/2 stars out of 5. For the average Joe, the average movie will do enough to entertain, and that's what it did for me -- it entertains, nothing more, nothing less.

With a great performance from its pint-sized hero and a deftly brilliant script from writer and director McQuarrie in one of the most notable debuts in recent history. Full review later.

Based on the book One Shot by Lee Child, Jack Reacher is a step above Tom Cruise's last performance in the decent, but very flawed Rock of Ages. Now, I have never read the series, so I don't know how good they did a job in adapting Child's work to the screen, so I will judge the film based on the content. This is a well directed effort that manages to be quite entertaining for what it is, but could have been much better due to the fact that I hear the books are terrific and exciting. This adaptation is flawed, and you quickly realize that the film could have been a truly engaging piece of cinema. Unfortunately Jack Reacher is a good film that relies on the traditional action thriller elements. With that said, it's a tad predictable and the action scenes are standard that they are almost a cliché. This is a good film, but is one that could have been much better than what it turned out to be. If you want a mindless and slightly predictable action thriller, then check out this film. The film is never anything great either, and it had the potential of being a much better film. Acting Wise, Tom Cruise's performance saves this film from being a total misfire. The scripts limitations are apparent and you can see that the screenwriters took a few ideas from the action film rule book to create its thrills. I feel that the ideas were good, but a bit more effort could have been put into the film. As it is, it feels generic. Despite all its flaws, there's still a good film here, but to really enjoy the film, I guess you have to go into this one with an open mind.

A thrilling crime film that is quite gripping and well written, even with some blatant clichés along the way. And the best about it is, of course, Tom Cruise, who offers a magnetic performance in a great plot full of solid twists and exciting hand fights.

The Jack Reacher of the best-selling novels is a hulking, blonde haired, blue-eyed, 6'4" man of flinty justice. The Jack Reacher of the film of the same name is played by Tom Cruise, an actor who fits none of those descriptions. He is a movie star, however, and those are in short supply. The character is a former MP who operates like a drifter, leaving little trace, and inserting himself as needed to dispense his own sense of justice. The plot of the movie involves Reacher looking for a sniper responsible for a massacre, and hey is that German filmmaker Werner Herzog as the arch villain? Why yes it is. It's a pretty standard mystery/investigation, complete with crooked cops and inept crooks. What elevates the movie is Cruise's lone wolf intensity and writer/director Christopher McQuarie's (The Way of the Gun) ingenuity with clichés. You've probably seen this sort of movie before, but McQuarie finds creative and clever ways to stand out, delivering a nifty car chase and a nifty escape as well. It's just fun watching Cruise outfox his adversaries, via his wits or his fists. Where the movie becomes annoying is how it consistently has to remind you just how cool Jack Reacher is. At every turn, someone will say what kind of exceptional man he is, how he follows his own rules, etc. Reacher even gets the requisite "I'm not a hero so be afraid" speech. After a while, it just feels like the movie is overcompensating, trying to quell the irate fans of Lee Child's novels who probably envisioned The Rock in Reacher's shoes. Unlike Reacher the character, Jack Reacher the movie is not the best at what it does, but with a charismatic Cruise in control, it's at least good enough to see once.

Nate's Grade: B-

Tom Cruise is a great actor and simply one of the best movie stars out there. Almost all of his movies are good, and "Jack Reacher" is really no different. When a sniper kills five people, the police think they have the man responsible. Upon interrogation, he asks for Jack Reacher(Cruise). Reacher is pretty much a ghost. An ex military investigator who lives off the grid and isn't found, but instead sees the sniper on tv and comes to investigate. Reach immediately knows something is wrong and begins to work with the defense attorney to find out the truth. Just like his "Mission Impossible" movies, Cruise is fantastic, and really comes off as a guy whom you don't wanna mess with. Great action, good story, and some good one liners("I'm going to beat you to death and drink your blood out of a boot") make this a very entertaining movie. Robert Duvall has a small role, and it's great seeing him as his usual bad ass self. At a little over 2 hours long, the movie is a little on the long side, but it never feels slow or boring. Good action thriller that shouldn't be overlooked.

The acting may be a little wooden, the story a little choppy, but there's no denying that 'Jack Reacher' is good fun. A suspenseful thriller with good action set pieces but a very unsatisfying ending, the film also seems to have a few plot holes that aren't completely filled, concerning the story. That being said, you'll probably still leave the theater surprised at the fact you actually enjoyed it.

this film was not at all what i expected. it's sort of a cross between jason bourne and columbo, heavier on the detective work and fairly light on action until the end. the plot was a bit weak, and much of the motivation for the crime was left completely unexplained, but the film was fun and entertaining and the character of jack reacher is compelling enough. overall a solid film.

"Jack Reacher" is the epitome of hit or miss. As Jack Reacher, an ex-military man helps out a homicide detective to find out why 5 people were killed after 6 shots were fired. This film flows naturally, but the writing seems lazy at points at the slow tone of the film doesn't match well with the witty dialogued action sequences. I felt like I was watching Mission Impossible mixed with Jerry Maguire, and that is definitely not a good thing. However, the substance of the film is interesting and it kept me engaged until the end. The editing is a bit choppy and the direction seems off, but it's fun for what it is. "Jack Reacher" is decent, but it's a one and done film!

This movie really surprised me. I thought it would be a simple movie in which Tom Cruise beats everyone up leading to the bad guy, but there was way more to it. It had an interesting story and was a lot funnier than I expected. What most delighted me, however, was how it stayed grounded, unlike almost every other action film ever.

A strong performance from Tom Cruise and the suspenseful atmosphere created by Christopher McQuarrie helps to make ''Jack Reacher'' a solid action-thriller.

Jack Reacher is an action crime thriller done right, thanks to the direction of Christopher McQuarrie.The opening sequence sets the pace and the rest of the film never lets up. The story is over 2 hours, but the interest factor holds high for its entirety as plot details are revealed at appropriate times.Solid action segments are spread throughout the story as needed and they are amusing without the help of CG. The car chase alone has got some roar in the engine.Tom Cruise pulls off a Jack Reacher with much to remember; confident attitude with pithy remarks goes a long way. Rosamund Pike is a gem on screen, both visually and as an actress, and Robert Duvall is a pleasant surprise.Jack Reacher comes highly recommended with a boot full of blood.