Cruise Control..."Jack Reacher: Never Go Back"

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh,

Directed by Edward Zwick

The Story:

Jack Reacher (Cruise) has been helping Major Turner (Smulders) on a recent investigation. He promises to stop by for dinner when he finds himself in DC. When he finally arrives, he learns that Turner is in jail for crimes Reacher believes she could not have committed. So he decides to get her out and uncover the truth for himself. However the bad guys may finally have the edge on Reacher, and a way to hurt him personally.

Game on.

In all honesty, I barely remember the first Jack Reacher movie.

I think at the end of the day, there were some stunts that were pretty good, but if memory serves, they seemed to make Cruise more of an 80s throwback action hero, but it was still watchable.

So nearly 5 years later, I approach the sequel with a shrug and a "we'll see" attitude.

I honestly had no problem with this movie.

It told the story it wanted to tell, kept me interested and entertained along the way.

The lethal game of cat and mouse moves across country as Reacher tries to stay one step ahead of those chasing him, while hunting down the people in charge so they can get their lives back.

I may have to go back and see if the first one still holds up, because this may be a case where the sequel outperforms the original.

And either way, I'll take this series over any of the Bourne films any day.

Final Grade:  B-

And You Thought I Had A Lot Of Kids... "Delivery Man"

Delivery Man (2013)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders,

Written and Directed by Ken Scott

The Story:

David (Vaughn) is the classic underachiever.  He means well, but everything seems to go wrong for him.  His girlfriend (Smulders) is pregnant, but she doesn't think he's ready to be a father, or a husband.  However, when David finds out that his donations at a sperm clinic were used...excessively... from nearly 20 years earlier... and now he's the proud papa of 533 offspring.  142 of them are suing to learn who their father, codenamed "Starbuck" really is.  Much to his best friend's (Pratt) protestations, David opens the envelope and begins visiting his children clandestinely, to see if he can help them in some small way.  If not as a dad, perhaps as a guardian angel?

I quite liked this movie.

Perhaps it's because I'm sentimental, or a dad , or a sentimental dad, but this is a great film about how the heart of a man can change when he decides he really wants to be a good dad.

And maybe that's the heart of this film:

The difference between being a Dad, and being a Father.

When David begins the journey, he finds out he's going to be, and already is, a Father.  That's biological and cannot be changed.

However, it's the steps he takes to learn about each of his kids, and their needs and how he can help, if it's needed, that change his heart into that of being a Dad.

By the end of the film, the court will decide if Starbuck has to be revealed to his children by force...

Or by choice.

It's a wonderful ending to a pretty underrated film.

Vince Vaughn does his usual solid job of being Vince Vaughn better than anyone else could be.  He gets a best friend in Pratt who is able to hold his own with Vaugn when they are onscreen together. 

Yeah, looking forward to his turn in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would happily purchase this one for the library and watch it again.

This Mother's Day Give Mom a "Safe Haven"

Nicholas Sparks is at it again!

The Story:

A young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) arrives in a small town in North Carolina, and she's running from something terrible in her past.  Upon arrival, she tries to keep to herself as much as possible, but it's hard to ignore the sweet charm of the local store owner, Alex (Josh Duhamel) and his sweet kids.  At the urging of Jo (Cobie Smulders), Katie begins to open up her heart and life to Alex.  However, her past secrets are hot on her trail, and it could ruin the very life that Katie is working hard to rebuild.

I did not see that coming.

Okay, I would guess it is safe to say I've seen enough Nicholas Sparks' movies to be an pseudo-expert on the man's work.

: )

Previously, The Notebook was my favorite film that he wrote.  The bad part, it's got such a tear-jerking ending, I cannot watch that movie ever again.

Niagara Falls, baby.

No lies..no shame.  It's a beautiful story about love that lasts a lifetime... but man it hurts to watch.

His last two films that I watched, Dear John and The Lucky One... meh.

Call me unimpressed, overall.

So rolling into Safe Haven, the only silver lining I had was Josh Duhamel as the star.  I'm a fan.  Love the guys work.  Heck, he was one of the few bright spots in the entire Transformers franchise.

He did not disappoint here either.  He's absolutely movie-charming, and everything you need the leading man to be.  He's friendly, compassionate, great with kids, and heartbroken since losing his wife to cancer.  Is Alex ready to move on?

Well, duh.

Katie is naturally reluctant... and her sordid past is revealed, slowly, steadily throughout the movie by way of flashbacks.  It's an effective technique to keep you guessing on why she's running, and why the law is hot on her trail.

The climactic finale feels a bit forced, but the build to it was suspenseful and intriguing enough that you can let it pass.

And then the movie quiets down, and offers up one more piece of the puzzle that you may or may not have considered up to that point.

Well played Nicholas Sparks, you got me to cry.  Again.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could consider both.  Entertained throughout, and the ending, while heart-string tugging is not as nearly as emotionally devastating as the Notebook.  I can appreciate that.