Review! Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) Directed by Edward Zwick. Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge. IMDB says “Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.”

Movie sequels are often both anticipated and dreaded at the same time. If you liked something the first time, you want more of it. But how do you give up the same goods while also capturing the magic of freshness a second go around? There isn’t an easy formula for a successful sequel so many end up as a mixed bag. Unfortunately, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back follows that similar fate.

This time around, our mysterious hero (played by Tom Cruise) becomes entangled in a new elaborate murder cover-up and ends up on the run with Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), an army major who has been wrongfully accused of espionage. While on the lam, the duo also takes on Reacher’s possibly estranged daughter who is in danger. This allows for a bunch of annoying teenager tropes and a forced sense of reflection for the protagonist. The plot is more route than the first film and doesn’t do the movie any favors on the whole. The Jack Reacher series doesn’t excel because of its core mystery but it certainly helps make for more effective action sequences if used properly.

The previous Jack Reacher film was one of my favorites of the year. I’ve watched it and rewatched it and I still find it so much fun. This follow up doesn’t have any of the same punch or appeal as the first film. I might have just wrote the film off completely if I didn’t have so much adoration for the predecessor. While Smulders is a worthy addition to the cast, Reacher’s “daughter” played by Danika Yarosh feels like a completely unnecessary addition. Cruise is fine, playing the character with less gusto and more “I’m getting too old for this shit.” The biggest downfall of the movie, like many sequels, is a boring villain. You can’t follow up crazy I-chewed-off-my-own-fingers Werner Herzog with white guys that just like to punch stuff. I just saw the movie and I can’t remember anything noteworthy about the main baddies. They never feel like anything more than throwaway henchmen and that’s not good.

On the brighter side, the movie does have a few nicely done action sequences and fun moments. After all, one of the reasons that this property seems ripe to franchise is that the main character should be able to be put into plenty of different scenarios with little explanation and maximum badassery. I certainly didn’t find myself bored or turned off during the run time. Just a little let down. I would say it’s perfectly safe to skip a theater viewing of this and wait for the Blu-Ray. In the meantime, please check out the first film if you haven’t already. You can even play the movie drinking game for the film.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is currently out in theaters nationwide.