He’s the catalyst for the chases and fight scenes, which director Edward Zwick cuts together so quickly, their grace is hard to appreciate. Meanwhile, a trenchcoated heavy (Patrick Heusinger) is tailing Reacher, Turner and the teen. The villain appears to be a white guy in a suit with an American flag pin on his lapel, but he isn’t named and doesn’t speak until the film’s third act. They find that beyond a cover-up of the soldiers’ murders, crooked officials may be supplying weapons to insurgents in the Middle East. The teenager is the pawn in this story as Reacher and Turner try to uncover corruption high in the military ranks. The 2012 film was adapted from a much earlier work in the series, so perhaps Reacher’s desire to be a dad is covered in the volumes in between. “Never Go Back” is based on Lee Child’s 18th Reacher novel. Nothing about Reacher’s character suggests he’s yearning for fatherhood, and yet she becomes his main motivation. This contrivance undoes the suspension of disbelief. Suddenly, he’ll do anything to protect her. Reacher denies it, but goes after the girl (Danika Yarosh) anyway. Reacher comes to her aid, but another official warns him off, taunting him with a pending paternity lawsuit that claims Reacher fathered a now 15-year-old girl. Turner is investigating the murders of two soldiers in Afghanistan when she’s removed from her office and jailed on espionage charges. Smulders, who’s played a small role in the “Avengers” films, proves herself an action star and leading lady as Susan Turner, an Army major who has taken over Reacher’s post in the military police force. The ageless actor does most of his own stunts and effectively uses his eyes to convey his character’s guarded sensitivity. He’s steely, strong and almost accidentally handsome.

And while they’re incredibly appealing, they can’t do more than the story allows.Ĭruise, who has made himself this generation’s ultimate action star, is perfect as Jack Reacher.

This leaves the film riding on its action sequences and the charm of its central characters, played by Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders. In “Never Go Back,” the bad guys are one-dimensional caricatures and the lone wolf is driven by protecting a teenager whom he insists from the start isn’t his daughter. “Jack Reacher” sequel not as good as 2012 original – The Denver Post Close Menu

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