History Film / JackReacherNeverGoBack

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a billion dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling [[AMacGuffinFullOfMoney surplus weapons full of uncut heroin]] out of Afganistan. This does have historical basis - from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking allegations of CIA drug trafficking in Vietnam]] to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking the CIA's involvement in cocaine trafficking in Colombia]]]].

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a billion dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling [[AMacGuffinFullOfMoney surplus weapons full of uncut heroin]] out of Afganistan. This is [[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War on Drugs began - such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking allegations of CIA drug trafficking in Vietnam]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking CIA's involvement in cocaine trafficking in Colombia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: The final battle between Reacher and the Hunter is even more brutal than the final fight with Charlie in [[Film/JackReacher the first one]].

* WrongfulAccusationInsurance: Reacher and Turner are eventually cleared of the murder and espionage charges against them, which of course means they are forgiving for breaking out of prison, beating up a bunch of soldiers, and stealing several vehicles.

* MathematiciansAnswer: When Reacher is asked whether he recalls what happened in a certain time span, he only answers "yes."

* NeedleInAStackOfNeedles: Reacher steals a lawyer's car keys and asks Turner what a lawyer might drive. She suggests a black sedan. They run into a parking lot full of black Chrysler 200 sedans. The use the alarm mechanism as a distraction and hitch a ride on a food truck instead.

* ChevoksGun: When Jack Reacher goes into an abandoned building and is confronted my mercenaries, a metal hook is dangling between him and the lead merc. Jack opens up the fight by swining the hook into his face.

* TheWorfEffect: Reacher can handle any mook or henchman. However, the Hunter manages to put up more of a fight than anyone else, even [[Film/JackReacher Charlie]].

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a ''billion'' dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling [[AMacGuffinFullOfMoney surplus weapons full of uncut heroin]] ''out of'' Afganistan. This is [[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War on Drugs began - such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking allegations of CIA drug trafficking in Vietnam]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking CIA's involvement in cocaine trafficking in Colombia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* AdaWptationalWimp: Reacher struggles and even loses a fight he has assistance with, while his novel counterpart can easily take on Special Forces without too much of a hassle. Justified as these are [[TheWorfEffect top-percentile fighters]] and Reacher usually has to [[WorfHadTheFlu fight while wounded]] -- or with a hostage's life at stake.

* AdaptationalWimp: Reacher struggles and even loses a fight he has assistance with, while his novel counterpart can easily take on Special Forces without too much of a hassle.

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a ''billion'' dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling opium ''out of'' Afganistan. This is [[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War on Drugs began - such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking allegations of CIA drug trafficking in Vietnam]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking CIA's involvement in cocaine trafficking in Colombia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* ActionizedSequel: The first ''Jack Reacher'' was more of a thriller that happened to have action scenes in it, and even those were subjected to {{Deconstruction}} of common action movie trappings and RealityEnsues. ''Never Go Back'' features more shootouts, fights, car chases, and [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], the last of which didn't occur in the first movie.

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a ''billion'' dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling opium ''out of'' Afganistan. This is [[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War on Drugs began - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking Vietnam]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking Colombia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* TheHeavy: The Hunter drives most of the plot.
* InsistentTerminology: It's '''ex'''-Major Reacher.

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Both the heroes and the bad guys do this.

* MuggedForDisguise: Reacher does this a couple of times.

* ShipTease: There's a bit between Jack and Susan.

* StreetSmart: Samantha knows a few tricks as well.

* IronicEcho: In one scene, Jack knocks a mook through the window and tells him that he doesn't like being followed. In another scene a few minutes later, Samantha tells him the same.

* LoopholeAbuse: When Reacher asks an Army officer who Turner's lawyer is, she says she cannot answer. He then asks her if ''her'' superior is hypothetically arrested, who she would recommend as a lawyer, to which she provides the lawyer's name as an option.

* TooDumbToLive: A mook takes cover from Reacher's gunfire behind a stack of fuel drums. The expected happens.

* LoopholeAbuse: When Reacher asks an Army officer who Turner's lawyer is, she says she cannot answer. He then asks her if ''her'' superior is hypothetically arrested, who she would recommend as a lawyer, to which she provides an answer.

* NeedleInAStackOfNeedles: Reacher steals a lawyer's car keys and asks Turner what a lawyer might drive. She suggests a black sedan. They run into a parking lot full of black Chrysler 200 sedans.

* NotHyberbole: Jack isn't kidding when he tells the Hunter than he'll break his arms, legs and neck.

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a ''billion'' dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling opium ''out of'' Afganistan. This is [[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War On Drugs began - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking Vietnam]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking Columbia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* FreakierThanFiction: The MacGuffin is some kind of goods being smuggled into Afghanistan, which Turner assumes is surplus weapons. Reacher's puzzled, however; the PrivateMilitaryContractors have lost over a ''billion'' dollars in government contracts because of the collateral damage from covering up the smuggling, but surplus weapons are actually really cheap; an M4 rifle is only worth 5 grand, a rocket launcher half that. "[[ArcWords The numbers don't add up]]." It's actually [[spoiler:backwards; General Harkness is smuggling opium ''out of'' Afganistan. This is [[[[http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053 a serious real life issue]], and has been ever since the War On Drugs began - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_trafficking Vietnam]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_cocaine_trafficking Columbia]] - more drugs have been smuggled by military and intelligence agencies than organized crime]].

* Creator Cameo: Lee Child briefly appears as a TSA agent.