Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name while on the run as a fugitive from the law.

Director:

Edward Zwick

Writers:

Richard Wenk (screenplay), Edward Zwick (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Cruise	...	Jack Reacher
Cobie Smulders	...	Turner
Aldis Hodge	...	Espin
Danika Yarosh	...	Samantha
Patrick Heusinger	...	The Hunter
Holt McCallany	...	Col. Morgan
Robert Knepper	...	Gen. Harkness
Judd Lormand	...	Local Deputy
Christopher Berry	...	Onlooker at Diner
Hunter Burke	...	Onlooker at Diner
Jason Douglas	...	Sheriff
Lizeth Hutchings	...	Smuggled Woman
Marisela Zumbado	...	Smuggled Woman
Alexandra Lucchesi	...	Smuggled Woman
Madalyn Horcher	...	Sgt. Leach

Storyline

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...

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | new orleans louisiana | literary adaptation | second part | restaurant kitchen | 

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Taglines:

Never give in. Never give up. Never go back.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some bloody images, language and thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

The picture's production was officially announced as being green-lit on August 14, 2015.

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Goofs

An aircraft that size requires at least 3 flight attendants, yet during the entire flight, there are none to be seen anywhere in the cabin, nor are there flight attendant seats visible that would allow for continuous visual observation of the passenger cabin, as is required by Federal regulations.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Local Deputy: [moving through crowd of spectators] Pardon me. Excuse me. Step aside please.
[breaks through and sees battered men on the ground]
Local Deputy: Jesus Christ.
[on radio]
Local Deputy: Lee's Diner. I got four down. I need two EMS vehicles.

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Connections

Referenced in Lorraine: Episode dated 21 October 2016 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Babs Tromboner
Written & Performed by Jeff Babko

User Reviews

Not an improvement over the original

While the trailer gives too many of the best scenes away (as do seemingly most Hollywood trailers of late), the second entry in the Jack Reacher franchise fails in it's attempt to capitalize on the momentum of the original.

With the titular character ably portrayed by Tom Cruise as the quintessential and confident bad-ass, the surrounding cast and paint-by-numbers story-line struggle around his nucleus to present a believable and involving action flick.

One of the issues that plagues the franchise is that the source material portrays Reacher as 6'5" tall at a beefy 250 lbs, capable of taking on 4-5 attackers at a time. Cruise is in great shape and appears at least 10 years younger than his actual age but even with strategic camera angles, at 5'7", it is fairly obvious that he is physically outmatched when surrounded by 4 of his assailants. Yet much ass is kicked with relative ease. This affects the realism meter as the film progresses.

Another issue is the somewhat stilted dialogue and a few "Oh, come on, that would never happen!" moments that elicited a few unintended laughs from other audience members during the viewing I attended.

The supporting cast do their part in workman-like fashion and some of the dialogue between Cruise's Reacher and Co-star Cobie Smulders' Turner entertains and engages as they argue while being simultaneously attracted to one another. Rounding out the cast as the chief antagonist, Patrick Heusinger is an effective (if somewhat clichéd) ex- Special Forces Psychopath who hunts Reacher throughout the film.

It's unclear at this point whether there will be a third film instalment but based on early box office returns, a sequel is likely. I hope they can take the best elements from the first film which had better fight scenes, less stilted dialogue and fewer formulaic plot devices. Seeing as the Jack Reacher Book series is currently at 21 novels, there should be a worthy successor in the Lee Child-penned Canon to put the film franchise back in good stead the next time around.

If you are looking for a breezy action flick with low expectations regarding plot twists or realism, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back fits the bill.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram 2

Country:

China USA

Language:

English Ukrainian

Release Date:

21 October 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jack Reacher 2

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,872,490, 23 October 2016

Gross USA:

$58,697,076

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$162,146,076

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, Dream Cars

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1