Release Date: October 21st, 2016
Starring: Tom Cruise, Colbie Smulders, Robert Knepper
Director: Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Defiance, Love and Other Drugs)
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: I never got a chance to check out the first film, so I’m going into this one fresh. There’s always been something a bit off with the diminutive Tom Cruise as a character that is supposed to be a tall, physically imposing former Marine who is strong enough to rip a mans arm off. Maybe the trailer will prove otherwise. – JTM
Rate the Trailer: 3 out of 5. An issue I’ve always had with Tom Cruise movies is he hardly ever sinks into a role. This didn’t feel like me watching Jack Reacher, so much as it was Tom Cruise obviously trying to act as an approximation of Jack Reacher. Anyone who has read any of the books knows that Cruise is pretty far off from the physical description, which is close to that of an NFL linebacker. Aside from Cruise in the lead, it’s nice to see Cobie Smulders expanding outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The action doesn’t look particularly spectacular, about the same as most other action thrillers, and lacking the visual flair of Cruise’s other big series Mission: Impossible. – JTM
Theater, Rent, Undecided, No Thanks? Rent. As far as Tom Cruise action vehicles go, I’m far more content just re-watching the great Mission Impossible movies. If anything, I would likely try and catch up on both of the Jack Reacher movies on streaming in a few months. – JTM
