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Created Oct 27, 2016 10:15PM PST • Edited Nov 26, 2016 04:21PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   Jack Reacher: Never Go Back improves on the 2012 origin movie by locating its story within the military world from which Reacher sprang and by limiting the ultra violence.¹ That said, Tom Cruise and his supporting cast are somewhat less impressive this time out, nor is the dialog as snap-crackly as before.

   All in all, Jack Reacher 2 is a fine action flick and a good time at the movies. Bring on Jack Reacher 3!
   -——————-

   ¹ The first Jack Reacher flick felt less like a movie and more like a mongo TV pilot, one sporting superstar charisma, huge production values and enough sociopathic violence to sicken half the country.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Tom Cruise has another strong franchise going here. Never mind that the diminutive moviestar isn’t the physically overwhelming character from Lee Child’s novels. Cruise is a credible badass, even if he still evinces more likability than malevolence. The guy is a simply one of the greatest leading men of all time.

   Competent Supporting Cast

   • Cobie Smulders has become a credible moviestar in her own right, though she seems to have hit her ceiling as a supporting character.
   • Aldis Hodge is suitably serious and purposeful as a JAG officer.
   • Danika Yarosh is reasonably impressive as a wayward teenager.
   • Patrick Heusinger disappoints as the main villain, a deficit that holds the movie back from greatness.
   • Holt McCallany is sufficiently slimy as a corrupt Army officer.
   • Lee Child cameos as a TSA agent. Who’s Lee Child? The author of the Jack Reacher novels, which makes these appearance the Stan Lee cameos for the Jack Reacher crowd.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

   Cruise

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

   Smulders

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Edward Zwick is slumming a bit directing a formulaic action pic like Jack Reacher 2. Maybe he owed Tom Cruise a favor or something.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    60 stuntmen, but nothing we haven’t seen before.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is significantly less edgy than the first movie, making it easier to enjoy.

17. Sex Innocent 1.5

18. Violence Brutal 3.4

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.2

22. Circumstantial Surreal 3.0

23. Biological Supernatural 3.9

24. Physical Surreal 2.6