Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher

Rated PG-13 and released in Grand Rapids 12/21/12

Reviewed 12/25/12 at Great Escape Cinema in Simpsonville, SC

with Gary, Brandon

plus

nephews Landon, Blake and Garrett

Brother-in-law Stan and Mother-in-law Cheryl

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET rating system

Every year we like to see a movie with the Underwoods and the Schultz families on Christmas Day. In 2011 we saw We Bought A Zoo and 2010 was War Horse. 

Keeping with family tradition this year, we saw Jack Reacher. Tom Cruise, who plays Jack Reacher, had his best performance in quite some time. To say this movie is thrilling is a stretch, but everyone in our group was engaged by the story. Brandon and my nephews thought it was very exciting and anticipate more to come.

Cheryl thought it was a little violent for PG-13. Most of the violence is implied and not shown out right, so I thought this wasn't as bad as some.

Adapted from the book One Shot by Lee Child, I thought the movie was exciting enough to turn the book series into a movie franchise. Reacher is an ex-military investigator/drifter who appears out of nowhere to lend a hand to defense attorney Helen (Rosamund Pike). Her daunting task is to defend an army sharp shooter who is accused of killing five seemingly random passerby's. Helen's father, played by Richard Jenkins, is on the other side prosecuting the case. It is up to Reacher to sink the DA and the case, but the DA doesn't take a case he can't lose. Entering the scene is a mob group led by a dark shadowy character "The Zec" (Werner Herzog). They weave around in the plot following Reacher and covering the tracks of their criminal activities. Reacher displays his fighting skills by fending off villains and racing around the city putting together clues. The highlighted character, played by Robert Duvall, adds some humor and every scene he is in is a hit. Reacher's ultimate goal of revealing the truth ends in a showdown with the villainous group. The movie did the job entertaining us, but with action movies like this the bar is set a little lower. You have to go into it knowing you are not seeing an Oscar contender. You will leave feeling satisfied and entertained, enough to make it worth the trip.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJJ