Movie Reviews: "Jack Reacher" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 12-21-2012, 07:38 PM

Movie Reviews: Jack Reacher

You’d think that there would be a built-in fan base for Jack Reacher. Not just among Tom Cruise loyalists, but also among the followers of Lee Child’s best-selling crime novels.

But while many moviegoers have been willing to forgive Cruise for the couch jumping and Scientology preaching, the Reacher fans have not been willing to forgive him for being short.

In Child’s books, Reacher is a blond, 6’5″ lumbering, dour presence. Cruise, say the critics, has the dour down, but there is little else he can do to recreate Child’s iconic character.

Rex Reed in the New York Observer comments:

“Cruise at 5’7 is a 50-year-old testament to the miracles of Botox, but in no way resembles Jack Reacher. Welcome to the movies.”

His take on the movie as a whole: “Grim, violent and stupid.”

Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times notes that Reacher is:

“a great character, but one that doesn’t suit Cruise. In Reacher’s case size matters — it’s integral to the way he wins the day.”

But Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune disagrees. As for the difference in size, he writes:

“It doesn’t bug me. Whatever. It’s just a few inches. It’s not like casting Gollum in Magic Mike or something.”

A.O. Scott in the New York Times also disagrees — sort of.

“The self-confident, supercompetent Reacher is a character Mr. Cruise could play in his sleep, which is pretty much what he does.”

No matter, says Elizabeth Weitzman in the New York Daily News.

“He doesn’t turn in his finest work, frankly, but he’s still a solid presence who holds together an otherwise generic thriller.”

Peter Howell writes in the Toronto Star:

“There probably couldn’t be a worse timing for this film to open, unless it had been last Friday, the day the school shooting horror occurred. Who really wants to see something like this, right now?”

(It begins with a sniper taking aim at random human targets, including a child.)

-IMDB News

AB · 12-23-2012, 04:03 PM

It's not just the height issue & hair color, it's the over-all character description. Reacher is tough, a loner who not only uses his strength but his intelligence to take on various villains. He's stoic, a man of few words and he was a former MP who was involved with special forces. And Tom Cruise just doesn't fit the character description. Now Rutger Hauer in his younger days would have made a good Jack Reacher.

Rutger Hauer:

Ant-Lox · 12-31-2012, 05:08 AM

It doesn't help that the movie looks similar to the other movies Tom Cruise has done. Honestly, it looked like a knock off to Mission Impossible.

12-21-2012, 07:38 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,168	Movie Reviews: "Jack Reacher" Movie Reviews: Jack Reacher You’d think that there would be a built-in fan base for Jack Reacher. Not just among Tom Cruise loyalists, but also among the followers of Lee Child’s best-selling crime novels. But while many moviegoers have been willing to forgive Cruise for the couch jumping and Scientology preaching, the Reacher fans have not been willing to forgive him for being short. In Child’s books, Reacher is a blond, 6’5″ lumbering, dour presence. Cruise, say the critics, has the dour down, but there is little else he can do to recreate Child’s iconic character. Rex Reed in the New York Observer comments: “Cruise at 5’7 is a 50-year-old testament to the miracles of Botox, but in no way resembles Jack Reacher. Welcome to the movies.” His take on the movie as a whole: “Grim, violent and stupid.” Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times notes that Reacher is: “a great character, but one that doesn’t suit Cruise. In Reacher’s case size matters — it’s integral to the way he wins the day.” But Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune disagrees. As for the difference in size, he writes: “It doesn’t bug me. Whatever. It’s just a few inches. It’s not like casting Gollum in Magic Mike or something.” A.O. Scott in the New York Times also disagrees — sort of. “The self-confident, supercompetent Reacher is a character Mr. Cruise could play in his sleep, which is pretty much what he does.” No matter, says Elizabeth Weitzman in the New York Daily News. “He doesn’t turn in his finest work, frankly, but he’s still a solid presence who holds together an otherwise generic thriller.” Peter Howell writes in the Toronto Star: “There probably couldn’t be a worse timing for this film to open, unless it had been last Friday, the day the school shooting horror occurred. Who really wants to see something like this, right now?” (It begins with a sniper taking aim at random human targets, including a child.) -IMDB News

12-23-2012, 04:03 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	It's not just the height issue & hair color, it's the over-all character description. Reacher is tough, a loner who not only uses his strength but his intelligence to take on various villains. He's stoic, a man of few words and he was a former MP who was involved with special forces. And Tom Cruise just doesn't fit the character description. Now Rutger Hauer in his younger days would have made a good Jack Reacher. Rutger Hauer: Attached Images

12-31-2012, 05:08 AM	#3
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	It doesn't help that the movie looks similar to the other movies Tom Cruise has done. Honestly, it looked like a knock off to Mission Impossible.
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