Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Serviceable but forgettable Cruise thriller is very violent.
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Jack Reacher
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 46 kid reviews
Kids say this film is an action-packed thriller that's appropriately intense for older teens, with strong language and violence that some parents feel is more suited for an R rating. While many found it entertaining and well-acted by Tom Cruise, there are concerns about graphic elements, which may not be suitable for younger viewers, leading to mixed recommendations on age appropriateness.
- action-packed
- intense violence
- strong language
- age suitability
- mixed recommendations
- entertaining performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After a lone gunman shoots five people in a random spree of terror, all the evidence points to a former Army sniper, but the suspect makes one request: "Get JACK REACHER." Who's Reacher? A retired soldier, weapons expert, and martial artist who lives off the grid -- no car, no mobile phone, no credit card, no known address. The star of a popular series of novels by author Lee Childs, Reacher (Tom Cruise) travels from town to town, always managing to get himself involved in some kind of adventure. Here, he sets out to make sure the accused gets what he deserves, but soon begins to suspect he may actually be innocent. Working with a defense attorney (Rosamund Pike), Reacher uncovers a dangerous conspiracy run by violent thugs who are eager to shut him up, permanently. Robert Duvall and Richard Jenkins co-star.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is muscley but ultimately forgettable entertainment. The story in Jack Reacher has enough twists to keep viewers interested, and Cruise playing stoic, confident, and extremely competent is always watchable. Plus, there are a few set pieces that are good fun. (Watch as Cruise, weary and wary, takes on five punks after warning them they're in for more than they expect -- no spoiler, he wasn't lying.)
But the film lacks momentum. It moves quickly through the action sequences and then too slowly as Cruise and Pike knit together the clues. The villains, led by a shadowy Russian, are generically evil, yet their motivation is unclear. Pike in particular has little to do other than look anxious in her damsel-in-distress role. And the movie seems indulgently violent. Besides the extended opening sequence of one murder after another, there are plenty of other sequences that leave both men and women battered, bloody, and broken. In short, Jack Reacher works as a serviceable thriller, but a masterpiece of the genre? Now that's a reach.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Jack Reacher, which is rate PG-13, different from R-rated films. Is the violence less graphic or upsetting? Why or why not? What impact does seeing this kind of violence have on teens?
What do you think about Jack Reacher's vigilante actions? Is it right for one man to dispense justice to people who are clearly villains?
Why does Jack Reacher live the way he does? How do his actions in this film show what he wants out of life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : May 7, 2013
- Cast : Robert Duvall , Rosamund Pike , Tom Cruise
- Director : Christopher McQuarrie
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language and some drug material
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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