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Tom Cruise's casting as Jack Reacher was criticized for not matching the physical description of the character in the novel. The Amazon series Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, has been praised by critics for better embodying the character. While Cruise's film struggled with fans feeling he was a poor fit for the role, the series offers a different and more favorable interpretation.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is the 2016 sequel to Tom Cruise's starring role in 2012's Jack Reacher. The film was poorly received when it was originally released, but has since gained popularity since its release on Netflix. This new attention has inevitably drawn comparisons to Amazon's Reacher, unearthing old criticisms of Tom Cruise's casting as the franchise's central character.
Tom Cruise has made a name for himself as a staple of action movies, but when the original Jack Reacher was released, there was a lot of controversy surrounding him taking on the role. One of the biggest concerns regarding Tom Cruise's appearance was that the actor did not resemble the character depicted 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 series, it remains a persistent criticism.
Related Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Review
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back doesn't offer enough high-octane action or ingenious mystery to stand out in a sea of mediocre crime movies.
Jack Reacher becomes popular on Netflix – Tom Cruise's height sparks controversy
The actor proved he had action chops, but he wasn't cut out for it.
Both films received criticism, but one major complaint, along with Tom Cruise's age, was that Cruise was too short compared to the character depicted in the novel. Cruise is only 5 feet 7 inches tall, and while he has always maintained a slender build, he is nowhere near the muscular, unstoppable force that Reacher should be. In the novel, Reacher is depicted as 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, so Cruise did not fit the role perfectly.
The newfound success of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back on Netflix has brought up these old comparisons again; a contradiction that divided fans of the novel when the film first came out and continues to this day. The exact reason for Never Go Back's return to Netflix's top 10 is unclear, especially its second place placement; however, it's entirely possible that it has something to do with the current popularity of Amazon's film adaptations; fans are craving more material centered around the characters, and they may be turning to these older film adaptations to fill that need.
Was Tom Cruise's height really a problem for 'Jack Reacher'?
He wasn't a good fit for the role, but did that detract from the movie?
The casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher had some impact on the film. No doubt some fans chose not to see the film because of his casting, but on a more fundamental level, Cruise's size and build took away some of the core appeal and character of the central character. Jack Reacher is supposed to be an intimidating man, towering over those around him and appearing as an unstoppable force. These are traits that Cruise simply cannot match, no matter how big of an action star he is or how good an actor he is.
Cruise himself has become an unstoppable force in the action genre.
Meanwhile, Cruise himself has become an unstoppable force in the action genre. His presence and acting have been a driving force in the Mission: Impossible franchise since the very first film. While not every action movie he has starred in has been met with critical acclaim, he has certainly demonstrated his star power. Cruise's reputation for performing dangerous stunts and his ability to engage audiences and sell the roles he plays, even as he ages, sets him apart from other action stars.
Amazon's Reacher solves Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher movie problems
Alan Ritchson embodies the role
Reacher premiered on Amazon Prime in 2022, but has no connection to the previous films. The series stars Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, and the series was critically acclaimed, beating the film in terms of popularity and reception. With a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear that the film adaptation is accurate to Reacher's characterization, with the most noticeable change being Ritchson's casting. At 6'3″, Ritchson is much closer to Cruise, and even his build and presence are much closer to the character as depicted in the novels.
The series could bring a new perspective to Tom Cruise's films, and the two works stand in stark contrast to one another. Reacher continues to be popular, and Cruise's films have unfortunately fallen victim to the fact that Cruise was never Jack Reacher to most fans. As Jack Reacher: Never Go Back proved, a Tom Cruise action movie is just a Tom Cruise action movie. There's nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but it's not necessarily suited to certain productions. Still, the popularity of the Amazon series allows the two to coexist as separate, very different interpretations.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
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JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK is the sequel to the 2012 original, based on the novel by Lee Child. Hoping to finally meet with a longtime supporter in person, Jack travels to Washington to meet with Major Susan Turner, only to learn that she has been accused of treason and arrested. Jack quickly deduces that she is being set up and, after helping her escape, the two work together to reach the heart of a terrible government conspiracy.
