Jack Reacher: Never Go Back * * 1/2

   I’m going to be one of the few “reviewers” (I use the term cautiously) to start a review of this film without making a pun on its title, even though it's just begging for it.

   The character Jack Reacher is a loner if nothing else.  But in this second film they turn Jack Reacher into a family man - sort of. It’s a bit like the story has taken a lead from the Taken series of films.

Jack and "family" run to catch a plane
(But hey, don't we all?)

   The plot is full implausibilities, fortunate coincidences, good timing and bad timing. It also shows many a good punch to the head - or other sensitive parts of the anatomy - for our entertainment.

   Jack Reacher is an ex-army man who wanders round the country giving bad people a good slapping (you go Jack!).   

   In this film he gets involved with some army people who are trading guns and narcotics and are happy to kill other army people to keep their illicit trade under cover.

   Army Major Susan Turner (she looks like a model)  is on to this, so the bad Army guys get her incarcerated on trumped up charges.  Jack Reacher gets incarcerated too, also on trumped up charges, even though he is no longer in the Army.  (They make it sound somewhat logical as they’re doing it.)

   Jack and Susan break out of prison, and then it’s a race against time to expose these bad people who in turn have hired professional hit-men to kill Jack and Susan  and…… Sam, a teenage girl, who the baddies believe to be Jack’s natural daughter.  They figure killing or kidnapping her will give them leverage.  Having just met her Jack doesn’t think she is his kid, but he feels obliged to protect her.

  So like a family of three, Jack, Susan and Samantha, are are on the run.  Soon they’re on their way to New Orleans which is where all the action culminates.

   There are some good car chases, bullet dodging and hard hitting.  

    It’s all rather formulaic but I wouldn't knock it for that. After all, we have an expectation of this type of film.  But overall it’s just not that exciting ,even with Tom Cruise as Jack  Reacher.
I actually like watching Tom work. I know he’s a bit weird in his private life but he’s a very fine screen actor.  He just seems to command the screen when he is on it: and, as always he puts effort  into this, but it just doesn’t have that much steam.  You even get tired of the big shoot out toward the end.  

   It's okay I guess, but rather like eating an uninspiring take-away meal.