Jack Reacher Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: December 21, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 6/10
Thoughts by TSR: Boo! Hiss! This is an outrage! Et cetera! I think that’s the reaction I’m supposed to have to this trailer. I mean, the Jack Reacher of Lee Child’s books is a 6’5’’ beast of a man. Tom Cruise is, well, not that. The casting didn’t upset me since I haven’t read the books, but I certainly understand the disappointment of some fans. Without that frame of reference, however, I’m left looking at this as simply another action movie. And that is really what it looks like: just another moderately entertaining, though ultimately disposable action movie.
Tom Cruise has proved that he's physically capable of being a butt-kicking action star, but I’m not sure I entirely buy him as a man who instills the fear of god in people. At least there is some solid, if unremarkable, action going on. I quite like the final moments in the trailer – “Remember, you wanted this” – so that's a start. The bland title isn’t doing the film any favors, though. Just because it’s the lead character’s name and you want to start a franchise doesn’t mean you can’t have a more interesting title!
If I’m going to be excited about watching a film where a man who doesn’t talk much drives around in a cool car and beats a guy or two silly, it will be because I’m seeing Drive for the umpteenth time. Jack Reacher may be a perfectly acceptable action alternative to the prestige pictures that will hit theaters at the end of the year, but I’m not going to be counting down the days until it arrives