Jack Who?

Rating: Null/10 (27 January 2013)

If "Jack Reacher" was supposed to start a new movie franchise, well this effort was the wrong way to start it! I think that in a world defined by James Bond on one hand and Jason Bourne on the other, "Jack Reacher" was meant to fall somewhere in-between. Unfortunately that was a mistake and part of the reason that the movie failed to catch on at the box office.
Instead of trying to perhaps fill-in or bridge the gap between Bond and Bourne, Reacher should have inhabited its own space and stood apart from all the other franchises! The movie veered from the serious to the silly quite often, with some scenes sprinkled within that defied explanation through their stupidity and cringe inducing awkwardness.
I have not read any of the Reacher novels, but am aware enough of the physical description and attributes of the lead character, to realize, as have apparently many others, that the role was miscast, perhaps fatally so, in so far as this movie goes. The height, weight and physicality of the character not only serve the character in a visual, descriptive manner, but is also part and parcel of who the character is! So when Tom Cruise got his hands on the role, fans of the novels were enraged and newcomers to Reacher's universe were miffed to say the least. Apparently the only one who has not fazed by all this was the author himself, which leads me to surmise that he was therefore submitted to some kind of Scientology ritual...to "cleanse" away any doubts or opposition, that and a healthy amount of money!
If my understanding is correct, Jack Reacher is a world-weary guy, exhausted by his past and very uncomfortable with his present. The man is supposed to be a hermit, not that you would know it by watching Cruise...fumble his way across the screen!
The storyline is interesting enough, but in the hands of this director and this actor it assumes with ease the mantel of mediocrity and boredom. Rosamund Pyke is the only one who is given anything remotely resembling an interesting role. The other one, strangely enough, I found any empathy towards, was Alexia Fast who played Sandy, the young woman used to lure Reacher into a trap. Besides that I did not give a rat's a** about anyone else, including Reacher.
I will go all out and say that this movie fails on many levels, acting and directing being the main ones, but the overall bad vibe I got from this movie comes directly from Tom Cruise himself. He should have never been cast in this movie! Jack Reacher is an interesting character and there are sure enough worthy movies in that budding literary franchise to be churned out, is just that Tom Cruise should not be a part of it!
If any other studio decides to take another chance on Jack Reacher, and I hope they do, a better decision making and planning process as to screen writing, casting and directing should be in place to ensure that next time, if there is one, the movie has a better chance at succeeding!