The Jackal is one of those movies that exists in the weird twilight zone of 90s action films, where logic is optional, and characters make decisions that would only make sense if they were high on a mix of adrenaline and existential dread.
Case in point: Jack Black’s character, Ian. Poor, hapless Ian, who’s about as competent as a drunk guy trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. He gets roped into helping Bruce Willis, the stone-cold assassin, test out a high-powered, military-grade cannon.
Now, any reasonable person, after having their arm unceremoniously vaporized by said cannon, would probably reevaluate their life choices—maybe even consider an early retirement. But not Ian. Nope, this guy, with one arm hanging on by a thread, is still listening to Willis like a loyal golden retriever, dutifully moving to the spot where he’s instructed to stand.
It’s like watching someone follow their GPS into a lake but still thinking, “Yeah, this seems right.” You can’t help but wonder what was going through his mind. “Well, I’ve already lost an arm, might as well see this through to the bitter end.”
It’s this kind of absurdity that makes The Jackal a masterclass in 90s cinematic logic and honestly, that’s what makes it such a great guilty pleasure—it’s the kind of ridiculousness you can’t help but enjoy, even while shaking your head in disbelief.