![]() ![]() The pacing is also way over-torqued, so even if little registers, at least I was never bored. The travelogue-like setpieces (David seems to travel to just about every hot spot on the map) are fun for a while, and the "jumping" effects are rather nifty. Also not helping is Christensen, who seems to still be doing a stiff Anakin Skywalker impression, displaying little of the complexity that so impressed in more serious films such as 'Shattered Glass.' Sadly, his David is a vapid center to a series of vapid script contrivances.Īs directed by Doug Liman (' The Bourne Identity,') 'Jumper' is certainly a stylish film. Bell at least injects the storyline with some much-needed scrappiness, but by the time Millie gets sucked into the drama, we know exactly where 'Jumper' is going about three scenes ahead of any of the characters. The whole Paladin sect is pretty silly, and Jackson doesn't help by phoning in another over-the-top performance. It's a letdown that 'Jumper' squanders the interesting moral implications inherent in time travel and "jumping" for a standard-issue good versus evil plotline. Goyer, Jim Uhls and Simon Kinberg) quickly gets bogged down with the Paladin nonsense, and goes from intriguing to utterly cheesy in a matter of moments. Unfortunately, the script (which required no less than three writers - David S. And by adding the nicely pessimistic twist of having David be a bit of a Han Solo, 'Jumper' appears poised to avoid the silly superhero trappings and go to thematic places that few sci-fi films have traveled in recent years. ![]() David's backstory achieves moments of resonance, especially his charming romance with the young Millie (AnnaSophia Robb). The opening scenes of 'Jumper' are promising. That won't be so easy, however, especially when Roland traps David's sweetheart Millie (Rachel Bilson), attempting to use her as bait. Jackson, slumming once again), a member of a secret sect called the Paladins, who have apparently lived for centuries attempting to eradicate all the "jumpers." Hooking up with the more experienced jumper Griffin (Jamie Bell), David decides to take on the Paladins. Able to "jump" to any location on Earth in a blink of an eye, David eschews using his skill to help mankind, and instead parties it up like it's 1999, robbing banks to finance an extravagant, empty lifestyle.ĭavid's hedonism will come to an end, however, after he meets Roland (Samuel L. ![]() Loosely based on the cult novel by Steven Gould, 'Jumper' stars Hayden Christensen as David Rice, who we learn discovered the power of teleportation after an accident in his youth. Unfortunately, the film is so sloppily constructed that it makes you want to teleport right out of the theater and over to the next theater in the multiplex in hopes that it might be showing an old print of ' Highlander.' Despite some glossy production values, 'Jumper' would feel right at home on a drive-in double bill with any old '80s sci-fi B-movie. The neat premise is this: a secret society of genetically-gifted humans can teleport around the globe at will and battle each other using their powers for good and evil. Add 'Jumper' to the pile of great Hollywood high-concept ideas in search of a well-executed movie. ![]()
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