CityBoy

Thoroughly enjoyed Season 1 so I was excited for Season 2. From the very first episode it was obvious that something was wrong. Reacher looked dirty and his face was puffy, like an alcoholic the producers found living in a ditch. Reacher is supposed to be a straight arrow with an innate sense of right and wrong, not some scruffy looking bruiser looking for a fight.

The above was just his appearance...let's get into the dialogue. It's stilted, unconvincing and painfully repetitive. "You don't mess with...", "Details matter", "...if we don't kill them all", etc.

Also worthy of note is what they've done to Reacher's very character. He's portrayed in the books as a one man righter of wrongs, as he was portrayed in Season 1, so why does Season 2 have him in an ensemble? This is not where his strength lies.

And finally, we get it... all Reacher owns is a toothbrush and the clothes on his back. But watching him repeatedly by clothing is about as exciting as watching a kitten play with an iPad.

Let's hope Season 3 gets him washed up, dried out and back in a small town where he dominates the locals, the way it's supposed to be.

You know how you feel when you see Paul McCartney still trying to belt out tunes and you know he's doing his best but he ain't singing 'em the way he used to and you still love him and all but really, why isn't he just kicking back and letting his past performances stand for themselves?

Arnie should take note. He's doin' his best, but it just isn't good enough. He scowls to show he's angry, scowls to show he's thinking, scowls to show he isn't dead yet... he scowls his way through the entire movie. He's done some fun stuff in the past but, frankly, ever since playing the governor of California, his best by date has been exceeded.

This entire movie is poorly written, poorly directed and poorly acted. If you like stuff blowing up then there are a few redeeming scenes, but there's really nothing here for those who want to Schwarzenegger do his thing. Just a tired old man, with a tired old face in a tired old movie.

No doubt about the fact that this movie is a complete waste of time. And yet, I sat through it all and didn't regret a moment of it. It is violent, gory, disgusting, has gratuitous nudity and characters that will make you squirm. And this last bit is why it works. The characters are actually developed. You get just a little peak inside of each one's psyche which is very effective in creating a true sense of horror.

Perhaps I was predisposed to like this movie only because William Forsythe was in it - anyone who tries to kill Steven Seagal (Out For Justice) is OK in my book! I did feel that Geoffrey Lewis was wasted in his minor role... the man is so much more capable that what is shown here. But on the whole, if you like this sort of thing, you'll love this.

I read some of the reviews and it seems people either love it or hate it. Not really worthy of either of these extremes. It's a nice little time-waster for a rainy day. Quite a few laughs but nothing earth-shattering. Glad I didn't pay $20 to see it in a theatre, but glad I watched it on TV.