"TOM CRUISE is Jack Reacher" blare the posters for this movie adaptation of author Lee Child's hugely successful character.
However, there were a fair few fans of Child's 17 novels who felt that, actually, Cruise was certainly NOT Jack Reacher.
Most complaints about Cruise taking the role stem from the physical difference between him and the books' description of Reacher. The character is 6ft 5in, while Cruise is 5ft 7in.
Much of this teeth-gnashing will be down to the readers' desire to see the character done justice on the big screen. I expect the fears of many will be put to rest by this solid crime-drama, featuring an enjoyable turn from Cruise.
Adapted from Child's novel One Shot, the story sees five people gunned down by a sniper in Pittsburgh. Police suspect an ex-army sniper, as does Reacher, but as he begins to investigate — with the help of Rosamund Pike's defence attorney — he uncovers a conspiracy.
You can see why Cruise wanted the role. Reacher is the epitome of cool. A highly decorated ex-soldier, he's also hard as nails and hyper-intelligent.
Cruise delivers on the action front and the script from Usual Suspects writer Chris McQuarrie, who is also on directing duty, gives proceedings just the right level of knowing humour. The movie also contains one of the great lines of the year: "I'm gonna beat you to death and drink your blood from a boot!" Nice.
Surrounding Cruise is a fantastic supporting cast including Richard Jenkins, Robert Duvall and film director Werner Herzog playing the creepy villain who has a penchant for making his henchmen chew off their own fingers.
Whether this will become a franchise to sit alongside Mission: Impossible remains to be seen.
Still, with Cruise on top form this thriller will entertain before slipping quickly from memory.
RATING: 3/5
- Alex presents Bond's Greatest Moments, with clips from the franchise's 50-year history, at 7.30pm on New Year's Day to mark the return of Sky Movies 007 HD.
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