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When Tom Cruise took on the role of Jack Reacher, there were several criticisms regarding Cruise’s casting because his height is shorter than the character’s six-foot description in Lee Child’s novels. Cruise is an expert in taking on tough-guy roles such as secret agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise and fighter pilot Maverick in Top Gun. While he is able to showcase Reacher as a strong and skilled fighter, Cruise’s portrayal is a bit too charismatic, especially since Reacher is intended to be more of a ruthless killer with little to no remorse.
On the other hand, Ritchson’s size and muscular physique nearly match the character’s description in the novels. He is a little over six feet in height, and has big arms and muscles, making him appear more physically intimidating compared to Cruise’s portrayal. Ritchson’s size is also effective in terms of being able to get himself out of complex situations, such as breaking off the zip ties attached to his wrists when he’s arrested or being able to climb on top of a truck in order to see what’s inside it by cutting the top open.
Of course, Cruise is no stranger to action sequences or taking on dangerous stunts. In his Jack Reacher films, Cruise manages to hold his own against dangerous enemies, big and small, who try to kill or threaten him. He has a few car chases, shootouts, and hand-to-hand fights. However, the problem with Cruise’s Reacher movies is that they are rated PG-13, meaning that his action scenes are limited to a certain extent in terms of less blood and gore.
While Cruise’s portrayal makes the character out to be an invincible hero who barely gets hurt or put in danger, Ritchson’s depiction of Reacher is more intense because his action scenes are bone-crushing and bloodier. Ritchson’s size may be physically imposing, but he displays some level of vulnerability by getting hurt and attacked by his villains because he can take and overcome brutality. Ritchson’s Reacher also has more variety in his fights and kills due to the character’s expertise in martial arts, gunplay, knives, and sneaky extractions.
Cruise’s Reacher does manage to display his expertise in weaponry (such as sniper rifles in the first film) and analyzing the scene of the crime, as well as having conversations with important people (the district attorney, witnesses, suspects, etc.). Ritchson’s Reacher does the same and a lot more because he manages to move around various settings, such as Georgia, New York, and Tennessee. The murder cases in Cruise’s films are more clear-cut and predictable, especially since the few enemies he faces are revealed a little early. Ritchson’s Reacher fights several bad guys, giving him a bigger dilemma because he goes up against an army of villains (many of whom are corrupt and want him dead), and uncovers a counterfeit scheme involving several powerful agencies such as the F.B.I., the E.P.A., and Homeland Security.
Jack Reacher is a tough and intelligent character portrayed by two skillful actors. While Cruise does his best to make the role of Reacher his own, Ritchson is better because he embodies the character’s physique, displaying both strength and vulnerability. Ritchson’s Reacher also appears more like a soldier who’s always ready to kill when necessary, and understands that he is not a hero but an outlaw who’ll do whatever it takes to solve the case and get the job done.
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