Introduction
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is the 2016 action thriller sequel of the film Jack Reacher, starring Tom Cruise as the main character yet again. The movie is directed by Edward Zwick, who co-wrote the screenplay with Richard Wenk and Marshall Herskovitz. Never Go Back is based on the 18th novel of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. The first film received only modest critical acclaim and commercial success, but the second film strived to further develop Reacher’s character and expose an emotional core, adding more personal stakes.
Never Go Back is regarded as an efficient action film. It focuses on the charm of Tom Cruise and the popularity of the source material. The film maintains the basic formula of the first film, which is the only thing fans of the books appreciated. In Never Go Back, there are still solid performances and explosive action sequences. However, the sequel is still disliked due to the formulaic storytelling and lack of intrigue.
Plot Summary
We see Jack Reacher, the ex-army cop and now a drifter, still meting out america’s brand of vigilante justice. Not a breath away from the film’s start he is still living the same way as before, helping small-town fathers and mothers in the way he thinks is the right way. He helps expose a small-town corrupted sheriff and tips off his ex-military police contacts in the higher-ups, like Major Susan Turner with whom he has been in contact previously.
Reacher seems to have misplaced a contact as he makes his way to Turner, only to find she’s been arrested for espionage, a charge he finds suspicious. Reacher’s personal investigation into the matter proves she’s been framed, although his poking around gets the attention of a private military contractor linked to a arms-smuggling ring operating overseas Turner is tangled up with.
In the process of trying to free Turner and foil the grand conspiracy, a twist presents itself that he learns might have a teenage daughter. Now, in the case that he really has to protect her, like every father hoping the best, Reacher now has to contend not only with the conspiracy but with a serious crisis involving his personal life.
After rescuing Turner from captivity, the trio—Reacher, Turner, and Samantha—cross state lines to gather evidence, facing numerous attempts on their lives from assassins and military personnel attempting to conceal the evidence. Samantha, smart and rebellious, starts to bond with Reacher, who is quite hesitant throughout the journey.
Reacher confronts and exposes the hitman who has been after them, revealing the overarching conspiracy in the dramatic climax set in New Orleans. They separate after the journey, still carrying the feelings of their bond, DNA tests showing Samantha is not Reacher’s biological daughter.
Characters and Cast
Reacher and Turner is starring Tom Cruise, who is taking on the character of Jack Reacher once again. As always, the performance is high energy and physically demanding. While many fans of the book have been complaining of Cruise not matching the character Reacher’s physique, they do admit that the actor’s portrayal of the character’s strategic and calm nature is spot on.
Taking the role of Susan Turner, we have Cobie Smulders who is embodying the strong-willed and no-nonsense major. Smulders adds depth to Turner, making her a fully formed character instead of a mere damsel-in-distress. Turner is a competent officer and investigator who not only does not submit to Reacher’s lone-wolf persona, but actively works against it.
Danika Yarosh plays the role of Samantha who could either be Reacher’s daughter or not. Though her performance is heartwarming and complex, the subplot may often walk a fine line to melodrama.
The cold, calculating, and effective performance of Patrick Heusinger, who plays the unnamed assassin, a mercenary hired to take Reacher and his companions out, adds a psychocritical element to the film.
Aldis Hodge plays as a military officer known as Espin who first turns against Reacher and Turner until he later realizes the truth, then becomes a supporting ally.
The actors and actresses in this film displays a good prestegence of a military-action thriller, as Espin and Turner play out real-life mutual attraction alongside business relationship of severence. It is also seen clearly in the performance of Cruise and Smulders.
Tone and Style
Reacher’s storyline is narrated in a more emotional view in the sequel, delving into the father-daughter relationship, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability beneath the hard exterior. Spy-action is intertwined as danger lurks.
The car chases, hand-to-hand fights, and urban shootouts are action sequences that happen often and are coherent. Unlike most action films, these are not flashy. Instead, they are gritty. The fights have an element of realism; Reacher tires, takes hits, and bleeds. He shows an overwhelming amount of control and precision, which aligns with his background as a former military investigator.
This film geographically spans several locations, such as motels, city streets, warehouses, government buildings, and airports. While the pacing is mostly brisk, it is sometimes bogged down by the evolving fatherhood subplot and exposition.
Themes
Never Go Back is about the concepts of identity, responsibility, trust, and redemption. Reacher, for the most part, lives by himself and views connections as burdens. He is most presented with the possibility of having a child, which stands in stark contrast to his solitary code.
Susan Turner is the representative of the system he believed in. Her betrayal aligns with his disillusionment. Together, they navigate the gray areas of justice that lie beyond the bounds of institutional loyalty and a corrupt order.
Samantha’s role in the story parallels the life of Reacher in some aspects; a life marked by abandonment, resilience, and a healthy skepticism of authority. Regardless of whether she is his biological daughter, Samantha’s presence in his life compels him to reckon with the implications of his isolation.
Reception and Criticism
Reacher: Never Go Back has received criticism and praise from different critics. Some of them praised the action sequences, and the chemistry between Cruz and Smulders, while others criticized the film for lack of originality and suspense. Some of the viewers found the film too predictable and the subplot with the father too forced for the film’s overall narrative.
Economically, the film did not perform nearly as well as series Reacher had hoped for; while the film earned profits overall, it did not earn enough to warrant a sequel. Despite this, the character was adapted to a streaming series where the actor and tone were more aligned with the books, allowing him to gain a new life.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while it may not achieve the high standards of writing and atmosphere the first film had, Reacher: Never Go Back, remains a captivating film aimed at followers of the character and action films. It is a more ruthless continuation of the character’s journey while offering more emotion to its action-hero-audience relationship.
With each new segment that comes out, Tom Cruise continues to bring in intensity, while Cobie Smulders showcases her seamless synergy as a deserving accomplice. The mixture of the narrative’s suspense and personal stakes keeps the audience entertained. In the grander narrative of Jack Reacher’s story, “never go back” remains a great and solid addition, albeit not revolutionary.
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