‘Jumper’ has More Holes than Camp Green Lake
-----‘Jumper’ looked to be an entertaining combination of science fiction and adventure. However, despite my enthusiasm for a few of the scenes and the occasional moment, it seems too reliant on a sequel. So much is just thrown out there as common knowledge that it can even be self parodying at times.
-----‘Jumper’ is the story of a select class of humans with the ability to, that’s right, jump. They have certain powers that allow them to transport themselves instantly anywhere. They can even bring some things with them. Enter our naïve hero David Rice. Living in solitude since discovering his powers in High School, little does he know that he’s become part of a war that’s been raging for centuries. When confronted by a fellow Jumper named Griffin, he learns that he is in danger from the deadly, “Paladin” Roland Cox. Why Paladins hate Jumpers, and why there is a war between what seems to be about 15 people is all left for the audience to ponder.
-----Hayden Christensen is a statue in ‘Jumper.’ Whether he needs to act sad, angry, happy, it all looks about the same as protagonist David Rice. A step down form his turn as Anakin Skywalker, he seems destined to remain the same character in whatever he plays from this point on. Jamie Bell plays oddball Jumper, Griffin, in a fairly intriguing role that thanks to the weak script never really comes full circle. We’re left in the dark about Griffins’ ultimate situation, and not in an intentional or even artful way. The always entertaining Samuel L. Jackson is as enthusiastic as ever playing the one dimensional, virtually motiveless villain, Roland Cox. Rounding out the cast is charismatic love interest Millie Harris played with effort by Rachel Bilson. Unfortunately, like many of the characters in the film, she is about as gullible as a dog playing fetch.
-----The effects are occasionally fun and at times intriguing, though the film has an undeniable B-List feel to it. They’re not the film’s problem though, that comes from the script. ‘Jumper’ needs about thirty minutes more to even begin explaining the many holes that corrupt it. If part of a planned trilogy, as the film seems to allude to, they’re really going to need to step up the thought process. The film seems as if it was prematurely concocted with whoever happened to be in the room. Shouldn’t a film about a supposed war be epic? ‘Jumper’ is anything but epic. With often laughable scenes and a serious need for some legitimate motives for the war, ‘Jumper’s entertaining visuals can’t overcome the stupidity.
-----The final product is a mildly entertaining 90 minutes that will only upset you afterwards due to the many unconnected blank spots. You’ll probably initially think well enough of it, until it hits you that you really had no idea why anyone was doing anything, and just how many ridiculous moments there were in it. Take for instance, a man, thought dead for years since he was in High School, suddenly returns to the local pub of his hometown. No one blinks an eye and they all act as if he was there yesterday. All of this incredulity only continues as an old friend immediately agrees to leave the country with him. Yes, it is ridiculous. However, it’s certainly not a boring time and if you’re willing to be very forgiving you may even enjoy it. I, however, was too dismayed by the missed potential and poor scripting to even recommend renting it.
