Summary
Jack Reacher: Never Go Backwas the 2016 follow-up to Tom Cruise’s original appearance as the titular character in 2012’sJack Reacher.While the film was met with a poor reception when it was originally released,Jack Reacher: Never Go Backhas found increased popularityfollowing its release on Netflix.This new attention has come with inevitable comparisons with Amazon’sReacherand dredged up an old criticism ofTom Cruise’s castingas the franchise’s central character.
Tom Cruise has proven himself to be an action movie staple, but at the time the originalJack Reacher wasreleased there was a great deal of discourse around his casting as the character. One of the biggest concerns centered around Tom Cruise’s appearance was thatthe actor didn’t look like the character described in the novel on which the film was based. While this had little impact on the success or failure of the two films in the franchise, it has remained an enduring criticism.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Review
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back does not offer enough high-octane action or clever mystery to stand out from the glut of so-so crime movies.
Jack Reacher Is Trending On Netflix - And Was Divisive Because Of Tom Cruise’s Height
The Actor Has Proven His Action Chops, But He Just Didn’t Fit
Both films have had their share of criticisms, but along withTom Cruise’s age,one of the bigger complaints centered around the actor’s height compared to the character as described in the novel. Cruise is only 5'7", and while he’s always managed to maintain a lean frame, he’s a far cry from the muscular, unstoppable force that Reacher is supposed to be. Since Reacher is described as 6'5" and 250 lbs in the books,Cruise never quite fit the character.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back’s renewed success on Netflix has renewed these old comparisons. This inconsistency divided fans of the novel when the films were originally released and continues to do so. The exact reasons forNever Go Back’sreturn to the Netflix top 10 aren’t clear, especially in the #2 spot, but it could very well have to do with the current popularity of Amazon’s adaptation.Fans are hungry for more material centered on the character, potentially turning to these older adaptations to fill that need.
Was Tom Cruise’s Height Really An Issue For Jack Reacher?
He Didn’t Suit The Character, But Did It Take Away From The Film?
The casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher did have some amount of impact on the films. There were undoubtedly fans who chose not to see the movies based on his casting, but on a more fundamental level, Cruise’s build and stature took away part of the core appeal and characteristics of the central character. Jack Reacher is an intimidating man, towering over the people around him, and is meant to appear as an unstoppable force.These are traits that Cruise can’t match, no matter how big an action star or how good an actor he is.
Cruise has become something of an unstoppable force himself in the action genre.
On the other hand, Cruise has become something of an unstoppable force himself in the action genre. His presence and performance has carried theMission Impossiblefranchise since the first film, and while not every action movie he’s starred in has found critical acclaim he’s certainly proven his star power.Cruise’s reputation for performing dangerous stuntsand his capability of drawing in audiences and selling the roles he’s in even as he grows older sets him apart from every other action star out there.
Amazon’s Reacher Fixed The Problem With Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher Movies
Alan Ritchson Embodies The Role
Reacherpremiered on Amazon Prime in 2022, with no connection to the films that came before. The series cast Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, with the series finding critical acclaim and blowing the films out of the water in terms of popularity and reception. With a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes,it’s clear that the adaptation got Reacher’s characterization right, with the most visible change being Ritchson’s casting. Standing at 6'3", Ritchson is much closer than Cruise, and his build and even presence are far closer to the character as described in the novels.
With the series potentially bringing fresh eyes to the Tom Cruise films, the two stand in sharp contrast to each other.Reachercontinues to prove to be more popular, and Cruise’s films, unfortunately,fell prey to the fact that Cruise simply wasn’t Jack Reacher to most fans. AsJack Reacher: Never Go Backproved, a Tom Cruise action film is just that; a Tom Cruise action film. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not always the right fit for certain properties. Still, with the popularity of the Amazon series, the two can co-exist as separate and very different takes.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Cast
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is the sequel to the 2012 original based on the Novel by Lee Child. Finally trying to meet face to face with his support over the years, Jack heads to Washington to meet Major Susan Turner, only to discover that she has been accused of treason and arrested. Jack quickly deduces that she is being framed - and after helping her escape, the two team up to get to the center of a deadly government conspiracy.
