What was George Lucas thinking when he thought young Hayden Christensen could be a good actor? He stank in “Star Wars” and he still reeks in the new film “Jumper.
David Rice (Hayden Christensen) has the power to teleport himself anywhere in the world. He discovers his ability on the brink of death and in doing so decides to live on the wild side of life. But such actions are always under surveillance. David finds out that he is not the only “jumper” and is being followed by Roland (Samuel L. Jackson), a paladin, who has been seeking and killing his kind for centuries.
While the premise of the movie seems promising, it utterly lacks originality. The thought process that went into the script must have been dull and lifeless. It’s so predictable even a child could deduce what was to happen next. For instance: boy walks onto frozen ice river; boy falls in icy river. The gapping plot holes also spoil a lot of the interest throughout the movie. There’s no resolution and they’re a total waste of time.
Then there’s the acting. The question of the year is “Why do people keep casting Hayden Christensen?” He has no emotions and if he tries to convey any, he sounds like the robot from “Lost in Space.” Seriously, his pretty face needs to be broken in. His lack of experience shows and just because you cast people such as Diane Lane and Samuel L. Jackson opposite him doesn’t make it any better.
A few good things out of the film are some of the action sequences and actor Jamie Bell, who plays a fellow Jumper. Jamie Bell, “Billy Elliot,” who comes from across the pond makes the movie interesting. He has a nice presence and I wish the film would have been more about him. The action was pretty cool but had too many cuts in the shots to make it outstanding.
Doug Liman directed this over-budgeted-less-than-interesting action film. Liman, whom we know from films such as “Go,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “The Bourne Identity,” regressed in his abilities as a good film director to an apprentice. It’s amazing what one bad film can do.
This film will do well in the box office with all its press with the NFL playoffs. It’s just a shame to know that people are going to see a film that doesn’t resonate anything positive in a movie industry that could offer so much.