Tom Cruise brought Lee Child’s literary hero to life in a very cool way with 2012’s JACK REACHER, which turned into an unexpected theatrical treat. Now, four years later, he returns to that role in the sequel JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK. Edward Zwick (THE LAST SAMURAI) is the director on this one, which co-stars Cobie Smulders and Aldis Hodge. In this day of sequels hitting theaters like crazy, does this follow-up find its cinematic “reach”? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

The story opens with Reacher (Cruise) causing trouble in a small town diner, though we find out he was actually exposing some small town human trafficking. Turns out Reacher is now passing his time helping folks in need and reporting to Major Turner (Smulders), who sends her military police to clean up the mess. Over time these two develop a flirty friendship, and promise to meet for dinner. But when Jack arrives at her office, he finds a suspicious Colonel Morgan (Holt McCallany) behind the desk. Morgan informs Reacher than Turner has been arrested for trading military secrets. This doesn’t sit right with Jack, so he tracks down her lawyer to get some answers, and things just aren’t adding up. In the process he also discovers a file with information on a girl named Samantha, who may or may not be his estranged daughter from an old acquaintance. Complicating matters, a former military assassin (Patrick Heusinger) has set his sights on both Turner and Reacher, and soon becomes aware of Samantha (Danika Yarosh), meaning our hero must take these ladies into hiding and find out who set them up to take a fall.

There’s an interesting sort of disconnect with this Reacher sequel, in that it doesn’t quite feel like the first film, though not in a bad way. Cruise is essentially playing the same character, but the tone and execution of each scene evokes a more unique and separated quality. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but somehow this comes across more like the first in a series of movies rather than a sequel. Despite that, director Edward Zwick has crafted a rather engaging and at times rough thriller with just the right amount of low tech troubleshooting with its fight techniques. Reacher here is a sort of military MacGuyver, finding just the right use for items in close proximity, even when the bad guys have major artillery in their favor. Cruise executes a nice balance in making the character an intimidating tough guy, but also exudes a fun side when called for. He’s a sort of softer version of Dirty Harry, and in some ways it’s a better and more effective reading that what we saw in the first movie. Where the original has car chases, this one stays primarily on foot, offering plenty of that patented Tom Cruise running he’s known so well for. It’s also nice to see Smulders playing a very competent and tough female lead, the kind of woman who can definitely take care of herself, and feels more like a true equal for Reacher. And even in moments where the story easily could have let these two have some kissy scenes or even a full out love scene, the script finds restraint and lets them focus on the more important problem solving of the tale.

The inclusion of a long lost love child character is a bit hit or miss, but mostly works and provides Cruise a chance to play some “tough guy trying to be fatherly” moments. We’ve seen this motif used countless times in movies, but here it’s a little more sensible and restrained when necessary. Had the Samantha character not been in there, the story might have lacked a little weight to fully deliver, so I saw the need for it and was able to forgive the minor shortcomings in its execution. Heusinger is not bad as the sneering nemesis of the piece, but his look is a little too young and metrosexual to convey proper gravitas against Cruise’s larger than life screen presence. A slightly older and more seasoned actor might have filled that role better, and unlike the rest of the film that role is almost a little too similar to the Jai Courtney performance in the first movie… one of the few familiar qualities the sequel shares with the first one. The original also had the benefit of a legendary actor like Robert Duvall, whereas this one does not. Instead we get a bit of Aldis Hodge as a former trainee Reacher didn’t go easy on, who might just turn into an unexpected ally when needed most. And Hodge plays it well, though his character could have been fleshed out a bit better. Also sadly underdeveloped is Robert Knepper as the head of a weapons company that becomes a thorn in Reacher’s side. Knepper is an excellent actor, but here feels more like an afterthought. At 118 minutes, this one almost overstays its welcome, though I’m not sure what moments I would have cut… so perhaps everything there was needed to tell that story.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK is a rather entertaining sequel, even if it feels a bit different from its predecessor, but it’s safe to say this is a solid recurring character for Cruise to explore further should he choose to. The accomplished actor has gone on record saying he loves roles like this, sort of a throwback to more classic revenge and tough guy flicks. It may not have some of the flash and flare millennial moviegoers frequently flock to, but slightly older film lovers should find it to be a welcome distraction. It’s also one of the most brutal and intense PG-13 movies I’ve seen to date, and in the best way possible.

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