Dove Review

“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” is an action-packed, suspenseful movie starring Tom Cruise in the role of Reacher. He intends to uncover a conspiracy that involved the death of two innocent soldiers, and the besmirching of a lady soldier, Major Turner (Cobie Smulders), who is unjustly arrested. Reacher sets her free and he and Turner team up to unveil the dirty government secrets. However, things become more complicated when he learns a 15-year-old girl named Samantha (Danika Yarosh) may be his daughter, and a villain named The Hunter (Patrick Heusinger), decides that getting to the girl is the best way to get to Jack Reacher.

The movie does a good job of establishing a suspenseful plot, setting up a payoff for the various plot twists involving the conspiracy, a drug cover-up, and whether or not the deadly villain is defeated. In addition, the paternity question of whether or not Reacher is Samantha’s daughter is answered. It features humor too. After Reacher literally jumps from a building, he is asked if it hurt. “Yes,” he replies simply. Unfortunately, due to strong language and violence, and several sexual innuendos, we are unable to award the film our Dove Seal.

Dove Rating Details

0

Faith

None

0

Integrity

Explosions, bombs destroy several vehicles; fistfights including a lot of punching and bones are broken; a man is beaten to death which features his bloody face; various characters have blood on faces from fights; man thrown off building; two soldiers are murdered in cold blood; car chases and crashes; people are shot and killed; a man is shot in the leg; a statement that men were shot in the back of the head; dead bodies are seen on floor, bloody; a man's face is shoved on table; police officers killed in a restaurant while attempting to make an arrest.

3

Sex

Several sexual innuendos; a prostitute tries to gain a man's interest but doesn't; a comment about prostitution; a comment about a mistake and having a child; a man says if he slept with a woman he wouldn't forget her; a girl asks if a woman is gay and says she knows lots of lesbians; a comment about "a friend with benefits".

4

Language

A lot of language throughout including a few uses of "GD" and "J" as well as "JC", "Go to H", slang for male genitalia, and other strong language is continually uttered.

4

Violence

Explosions, bombs destroy several vehicles; fistfights including a lot of punching and bones are broken; a man is beaten to death which features his bloody face; various characters have blood on faces from fights; man thrown off building; two soldiers are murdered in cold blood; car chases and crashes; people are shot and killed; a man is shot in the leg; a statement that men were shot in the back of the head; dead bodies are seen on floor, bloody; a man's face is shoved on table; police officers killed in a restaurant while attempting to make an arrest.

2

Drugs

Multiple comments are made about drug use and addiction; a comment about "dope"; wine is mentioned; a junkie is seen with needle marks on his arm.

2

Nudity

A woman is seen in bra; cleavage; shirtless man; a man's shoulders are only seen as he takes a shower.

2

Other

A government cover-up featuring dirty commanders; a girl gives someone the middle finger; tension between characters; cars are stolen; a man's pocket is picked.