Jack Reacher

This adaptation of the first book in Lee Child’s long series of Jack Reacher novels is much better than I would expect from the pairing of Tom Cruise and The Usual Suspects writer-cum-director Christopher McQuarrie. The film plays like a 1980s action film with Cruise as the kind of believable fantasy-invincible-tough guy that used to be a staple of movies before CGI made every hero a superhero. Much of what happens in the film is ridiculous, but in a very entertaining and engaging way—including one of the best fight scenes in the last fifteen years and a more than decent car chase. Unfortunately, the film (which centers on a mass shooting and opens with the view from a sniper’s rifle as he aims at innocent pedestrians) opened on the day of the killing spree at the Sandy Hook elementary school. No doubt this unfortunate timing will prevent many from seeing the movie, which is too bad as it actually does provide some valid commentary on American gun culture—as significant a commentary as you can expect to find in an action film like this anyway.

Unfortunately, the film is further sidelined by three major problems. The first is casting Rosamund Pike as the second lead. Pike is an actress who has proved her talent in several previous films but who is bafflingly unconvincing in this one. The second problem is the under-use of the great German filmmaker Werener Herzog (how can one cast Herzog as a villain and then give him so little to do?). Lastly, far too many expository dialogue scenes are clumsily written, such as the encounters between Pike and her father, played by Richard Jenkins (even that fine actor can’t save some of these lines). Better utilized is Robert Duval, who shows up late in the game just with the film needs a boost—at least McQuarrie understands how to use a great actor in a small role like this. Some smart choices in the film keep it from being too predictable, but this is a moderate success at best.