JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK can be described as very underwhelming since it is basically people growling their lines at each other, running, and fighting.  It is a huge step down from the first JACK REACHER movie which I actually liked.   It sounds like Tom Cruise needs to kill this franchise or make the next JACK REACHER movie better than what we actually got with NEVER GO BACK.

In the sequel to the first JACK REACHER film, Reacher (Tom Cruise) is spurned into action to help clear the name of Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) when she is framed for a crime she didn’t do and it relates to something she sent men to investigate in Afghanistan.   Reacher’s life is further complicated when he learns he may have a daughter called Samantha.   Soon people (from a military contractor company) are out to kill Turner and Reacher which means Samantha’s life is also in danger.  Fights and running happen until the plot spins enough to find us information and drive the plot to a conclusion.  SO the latest JACK REACHER is basically a bland connect the dots action movie which you won’t remember much about after you finished watching it.  The movie wastes the talents of every actor including Tom Cruise who feels like he can just cruise by playing the character without some good Ethan Hunt action or what made the first JACK REACHER movie at least halfway enjoyable.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

REACHER RETURNS- focus on the sequel and why they chose NEVER GO BACK to be the next movie in the series with how the movie is different from the book

AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY- a look at the trio of characters that form an unexpected surrogate family

RELENTLESS: ON LOCATION IN LOUISIANA: behind-the-scenes with the production of the movie on how they used various locations, green screen, production design, and CGI to make this movie

TAKE YOUR REVENGE FIRST: LETHAL COMBAT- a look at the stunts and action of the sequel

NO QUARTER GIVEN: ROOFTOP BATTLE- a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the climatic fight of JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK

REACHER IN FOCUS: WITH TOM CRUISE AND PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID JAMES- the importance of having a good still photographer on the set of a movie and the need to train the next generation to be movie still photographers.   David James has shot stills on a few Tom Cruise movies and his still work is fanastic

The movie in standard definition on DVD and a code to download/ stream a digital HD version of the film too

FINAL ANALYSIS:  JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK is a bland horrible disappointing sequel.  I really enjoy Tom Cruise more in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movies which are many levels above the JACK REACHER movies.  I got more enjoyment out of watching the featurettes.

This review is ©2-11-2017 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

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