JACK REACHER (Rated PG-13)

Lee Childs, the author of the “Jack Reacher” novels, is even more prolific than Ian Fleming when he created a series of novels about British secret agent James Bond.

As such, the character of Reacher, only called by his last name, is ripe for a franchise, which Tom Cruise may have set forth in the 2012 release of “Jack Reacher,” an adaptation of Child’s ninth Reacher novel “One Shot.”

For the second go-round we are fortunate to have “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” which adapts the eighteenth novel. Deriving films from the source material in chronological order appears not to be essential.

Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher is really quite good as the former Army Major who has become a drifter involved in righting wrongs and taking on bad guys. His mantra appears to be: Have toothbrush, will travel.

With the lead character now in his mid-fifties in real life, the question is how many more “Jack Reacher” films will Tom Cruise be able to execute? For now, he’s very impressive with his ability to kick start the thrills.

The nomadic crusader for justice gets drawn back into his old military life when his successor, Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), is framed for espionage because she got too close to the truth behind the killings of soldiers on duty in Afghanistan.

Other sinister forces are going after Reacher on trumped-up charges which could land him in hot water. On top of that, he has to deal with a paternity suit alleging his neglect of a teenage girl.

Tough and scary in his combat skills, Reacher is an unstoppable force who can take down four guys at once. This ability will be sorely needed to go up against the Hunter (Patrick Heusinger), who is determined to eliminate the former military officer.

In trying to get to the bottom of what is happening, Reacher has to stage a ruse to be locked up in the same heavily-guarded military prison with Major Turner just so that he can initiate a convoluted escape.

Dogged in his effort to destroy Reacher, the Hunter has Samantha (Danika Yarosh) in his crosshairs in order to draw Reacher out of hiding because our hero, who may not be the father, won’t allow the young girl’s life to be in danger.

With the Major and the girl on the run with Reacher, the trio ends up in New Orleans where the climactic action scene occurs during a French Quarter Halloween parade. If you’ve ever been to the Crescent City, you know they love parades for every occasion.

The ultimate bad guy is Robert Knepper’s corrupt General Harkness, who has little screen time and serves not much purpose other than to be the final piece of the puzzle about nefarious activities that placed the good guys in harm’s way.

Whether you are a fan of Tom Cruise or not, the important thing to savor a really good action thriller, and on that score “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” delivers big time. Here’s hoping for more in the franchise while Cruise remains in good shape.  

TV CORNER – “DESIGNATED SURVIVOR” ON ABC NETWORK

We’re in the final stretch of a corrosive presidential election campaign that has many hoping for a tie in the Electoral College if only to obtain a different result.

The ABC network may be tapping into the national zeitgeist or at least into basic trepidations about where we are headed. “Designated Survivor,” not just good drama, posits a scenario of presidential succession in a time of crisis.

Keifer Sutherland has returned to network television not as Jack Bauer but as a low-level Cabinet member, though you may soon be cheering for his inner tough guy to emerge during critical moments.

The former star of “24” is Tom Kirkman, who has never held public office and is suddenly thrust into the national spotlight when a terrorist attack on Capitol Hill kills the President and everyone else in the line of succession.

During the State of the Union address to Congress, Kirkman, serving tenuously as the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is left behind in an undisclosed location.

After the explosion, Kirkman, who lives in Washington with his wife Alex (Natascha McElhone) and a rebellious teenage son and young daughter, finds his life completely upended to assume an awesome responsibility for which he has obviously not been prepared to undertake.

A show like “Designated Survivor,” much like any political drama at the seat of national power, involves a lot of palace intrigue inside the White House, and there is plenty of that here.

Kal Penn’s White House Press Secretary Seth Wright, a gifted speechwriter, has strong doubts about Kirkman’s ability to lead the nation. It’s worse than that when a high-ranking Army General wants to go a step further as if following the script of “Seven Days in May.”

Even more insidious might be Adan Canto’s White House Chief of Staff Aaron Shore, readily willing to advise the new President while simultaneously harboring notions to undermine him.

“Designated Survivor” is a good political drama worth a look, certainly more intriguing, engaging and fascinating than what’s playing in the real world.  

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.