They Came Together (2014)

“You look out of breath!” Tell me about it. “Well, it looks like you just watched a comedy where the jokes came with the frequency and intensity of a taut thriller.” You can say that again. “You look like you just watched a comedy where the jokes came with the frequency and intensity of a taut thriller.” Tell me about it. Poehler and Paul head up a pitch-perfect parody parade with endless energy, bite (“Whatthefuckareyousaying?”), and genuine chemistry on display. “Hey Joel?” Yeah? “Thanks.”

9

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Midway through Jack mentions how he’s not used to working with other people and that speaks for the film too, particularly with the addition of Turner–it’s a bit of an awkward pairing that often undermines her supposedly strong character (it’s still always Jack saving the day). Snarky and smart Sam is a better fit, fortunately (the climactic tie-in was great and yeah, I cried at the embrace). The investigative plot does its job once again, with an engaging fugitive angle added this time around.

5

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier. (IMDb)

Certainly more ambitious than the original, though not perfect: The titular character is given hints of nuance (“What makes you happy?” “I don’t know”), as is the mysterious Fury (finally) but both remain underdeveloped; The Winter Soldier is a formidable opponent and the SHIELD internal drama adds some complexity to the antagonism, but both the villain reveal and the Hydra twist feel far-fetched and a little dumb. Above criticism though, is the fantastic action choreography found throughout.

7/10 (Good)