Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Years after resigning command of an elite military police unit, the nomadic, righter-of-wrongs Reacher is drawn back into the life he left behind when his friend and successor, Major Susan Turner is framed for espionage. Reacher will stop at nothing to prove her innocence and to expose the real perpetrators behind the killings of his former soldiers.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a largely by-the-numbers action thriller sequel that fails to recapture the sharper energy of its predecessor. The plot is formulaic — a military cover-up, false accusations, and an on-the-run duo — with little surprise or tension. Tom Cruise delivers a competent but unremarkable performance, and the supporting cast is underutilized. Cinematography is serviceable but generic, lacking the stylish compositions of the first film. The film adds a potential-daughter subplot that feels tacked on and weakens the pacing. The ending resolves predictably without earned impact. Overall a middling, forgettable sequel that checks franchise boxes without distinction.