Jack Reaching...

Rating: 6/10 (9 July 2014)

As a book this story flows incredibly well moving from chapter to chapter which warrants a much better rating, but as a movie it doesn't translate well enough scene to scene. The story had lots of action, was entertaining thanks to some bumbling scenes and comedic quips but there was a lack of any real thrill. Any situation our hero was put in failed to deliver that suspenseful feeling of "what would I do or how would I get out of this situation" because without a doubt Jack Reacher will skillfully exceed the challenges of any event.
Tom Cruise stars as ex-military cop Ethan Hawk in a... wait... make that Jack Reacher, but just as impossible to believe is that one hit from anything short of a wiffle ball bat wouldn't topple Tom let alone a blunt wooden object to the back of his head. Cruise relies heavily on his demeanor to sell the character, which he has the talent to do, but in the world of on screen bad asses I'd rate him just above Jack Black in Nacho Libre.
Another miscasting award for this flick was that of co start Rosamund Pike. Her best attribute is in the way she looks at the the actors which admittedly she has the skill to put the viewer into a trance that will make you stop thinking of reasons why she's not a good actress. I'm curious how she passed expressions in acting school but I imagine it would be something like this... Show me: Love: O_O Fear: O_O Sadness: O_O, Hate: (_ (. There has to more style and charisma to acting than just a pretty faced, groggily eyed look to the side of the camera.
Overall though the movie wasn't a waste of time. It was a good story and (as long as you're not looking for anything intellectual) entertaining enough to keep you interested.