Idolisation of an antihero

Rating: 6/10 (12 September 2013)

Chicago. A sniper (Jai Courtney) enters a downtown high-rise and randomly kills of five people walking in a stadium park across the river. Afterwards the seeds of deception are planted, having ex-marine sniper Barr (Joseph Sikora) framed for the killing. Aware of the situation Barr has but one request: find Jack Reacher (played by Tom Cruise), after which he is brutally knocked into a coma by fellow inmates. Nonetheless Reacher, a seemingly elusive ghostly Reacher, an ex-military investigator reappears after two years of escaping the grid. Despite being an sworn enemy of Barr due to previous wrongs of the ex-marine, Reacher slowly unravels the truth behind the sniper attack. His only aide is Barr's attorney Helen (Rosamund Pike), as even within police ranks the conspiracy has dug in its claws...
Produced by Tom Cruise and directed by a relative newbie Christopher McQuarrie, Jack Reacher filters through as a reboot of sorts of the Jason Bourne franchise, albeit in this version Reacher does the chasing, and not the escaping. Equipped with unrivalled intelligence, photographic memory and apt to most military skills, such as hand to-hand combat or gun use, Jack is akin to godly. Here however the unsurpassed skill-set aren't owed to any covert human-enhancement programme, but due to a mix of genes and training. Now living a hobo lifestyle, Jack Reacher is a self-proclaimed wanderer, hiding from society at large, unless something or someone necessitates his reappearance.
Most of the time Jack Reacher works, even though the almost super-heroic traits of our protagonist does seem to become slightly tired and overused. The issue that probably works least is Jack Reacher's uncanny sex appeal, which brings a unwanted sense of ridicule - with the pheromones at work the movie would have worked well as an overlong Axe commercial. Not sure, if this was Tom Cruise working his ego, but it definitely brought out some misplaced highbrows...
Nonetheless, despite the expectations of a mindless action movie, placing its focus on brawns over brains, "Jack Reacher" offers several narrative surprises, weaving a well-thought out intrigue coupled with some witty investigative work by the contemporary Sherlock Holmes. It is undoubtedly a great pleasure to be able to engage into a movie and not have to question the logical connections made by the story. The actions of Jack Reacher never seem aimless and forced, but a meticulous pre-planned wholesome conceptualisation, much like with Jason Bourne's immaculate gift to slither through the tightest noose.
Soundly crafted some fault can be however placed on the underdevelopment of the enigmatic Zec (a chic appearance by director Werner Herzog), albeit maybe this was a purposeful attempt to not unravel too much details for planned sequels. Due to this however the final act does feel a bit stale, leading to a feeble emotionless climax, which lacks the intensity of a good "Die Hard" or "Lethal Weapon" showdown, as you never really care what happens to any of the enemies Reacher has to face (instead they are drawn like somewhat blank pages). Keep one eye open for a colourful, somewhat special small role of Robert Duvall, who truly makes his screen time a gleeful presence to behold.