Steven Seagal proved that nobody is Above the Law...
Tom Cruise did not get that memo.
The Story:
An assassin (Jai Courtney) kills 5 seemingly random people in Pennsylvania. The police grab a suspect who happens to be a former military sniper. The D.A. (Richard Jenkins) is ready to fry the man, but he maintains that he is innocent. His request? Get Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) a former military investigator who has seemingly dropped off the radar. When Reacher blows into town, he teams with Helen, the defense lawyer (Rosamund Pike) and they begin to unravel a cover-up that could cost Reacher and Helen their lives.
This movie didn't know whether it wanted to be played as a straight action movie thriller, or for laughs as a throwback to the great action films of the 80s/90s.
I think it suffers a bit because of that.
It's otherwise an almost engaging thriller...
But then Cruise starts spouting one-liners that were better suited for Stallone or Ah-Nuhld back in the 80s.. and it sort of pulls you out of the film.
Then there is the completely over-the-top, played for a gag, henchmen attack in the bathroom. The first stunt makes you laugh, then it quickly devolves into Stooges territory.
Yeah, a little too much levity sprinkled in odd doses make it an poorly paced action/thriller.
People need to go back and look at Lethal Weapon or Die Hard to figure out the pacing and be able to know when to install a joke/gag and when to play it straight.
Jack Reacher tried, but you should laugh because the joke/gag is funny, not poorly delivered or out of place. Overall, it's not a bad movie, just a bit too disjointed from start to finish to make me want to watch it again.
Final Grade: B-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'll have to pass on this one. Head back to the Mission Impossible franchise Mr. Cruise. The last ones have been really good.
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