Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsTired and Worn
Reviewed in Australia on 5 January 2018
Jack Reacher is a larger than life character, the all American (or nearly - his mother was French) hero, and similarly one dimensional. But it is a strong franchise and can always be counted on to deliver a fast paced intriguing narrative with a strong resolution. But it has also become very predictable.
I have been a fan of this series for some years, but I am now wondering whether it has become stale and humdrum. The framework for each narrative is always the same. Somewhere in some little corner of America horrendous events are occurring, and Reacher, always only a bus ride away, arrives in time to render justice with his usual display of combat readiness. It is never one on one with Reacher. He always manages to dispatch a clutch of 'bad dudes' without raising too much of a sweat.
Risking the ire of Child's legion of fans, I suggest the series could do with an injection of something new. Perhaps a change of direction or a different environment. Maybe it's time for Reacher to stop wandering and start a new career? And whose idea was it to star Tom Cruise in the series? Physically he is completely the wrong choice. One of the characteristics of Reacher, is his size. Cruise just doesn't cut it.
