Jack Reacher (2012, dir. Christopher McQuarrie) **/****

Jack Reacher is an action movie in the same vein as Dirty Harry and a Jason Bourne movie.  In it, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) investigates the case of a homicidal maniac sniper who guns down innocent people.  It is a case of mistaken identity and Cruise's character must get to the bottom of a series of criminal activities and corruption.  It is simply an OK picture that is instantly forgettable and will definitely not make any end-of-the-year best films of 2012 lists.  It is to run-of-the-mill, derivative, and unoriginal.  I was left with an unpleasant feeling at the end of this picture because of all the gunplay and  killing in the wake of the recent killings in an elementary school in the US.  Definitely one that is not worth seeing again and even the lame title gives a hint as to the lame attempt at a compelling action picture.