Jack Reacher - Movie Review

Fans of the Jack Reacher novels were up in arms over the casting of Tom Cruise as the title character in the new movie - an understandable position, since the fictional Reacher is eight to ten inches taller and 80 pounds heavier than the vertically challenged actor.  I've read one of the books, but wasn't familiar enough with the character to have an opinion about it one way or the other.

Cruise's size didn't have an impact on my enjoyment of the movie - he's not a big guy, but he's in shape and pulls off the action sequences very well.  Good camera work - shooting from different angles and avoiding direct height comparisons - helps to keep the audience focused on the action, instead of the physical size of the actors.  In truth, the action is so fast and furious that you don't have time to worry about anything but keeping the story straight.

Jack Reacher is an ex-military cop, a drifter who has gone "off the grid".  He's a tough guy - basically indestructible - and isn't shy about dealing with evil doers.  This is an action flick, and there's not much for humor, but I did laugh when he warned the group of young toughs who intend to rough him up:  Reacher:"OK, but pay your bill first"  Tough Kid:"I'll pay later"  Reacher: "You won't be able to pay later". 

Reacher is involved when a sniper kills 5 people in an apparently senseless spree.  When caught, he tells the arresting detective to get Jack Reacher.  It turns out Reacher has a past with the guy, but they're "not friends".  Reacher reluctantly agrees to investigate the shooting for the accused's lawyer Helen, played by Rosamund Pike.  It wouldn't be much of a story if everything was just as it appears, and Reacher soon learns there's more to the story than meets the eye.

Jack Reacher is a violent character, but the bad guys in this movie would give criminals nightmares.  The baddest of the bad is "The Zec" (Werner Herzog).  The Zec never touches anyone, but he's about the creepiest character you've ever seen. 

Other characters are pretty standard fare - most of them don't last long enough to to be fully developed, but they fit the style of the film.  The plot is interesting, and there's enough of a twist to keep you interested right up until the end - but face it, this isn't a movie to provoke thought.  It's chock full of action, not particularly believable, and a whole lot of fun.  If you're in the mood to see a lot of action, a few interesting characters, and an entertaining story, check out Jack Reacher.  It's certainly worth the cost of the popcorn.