Movies

Jumper: Great Idea, Weak Movie – Short Review

The online reviews at various film blogs seem to be pretty unanimous about Jumper: it’s a great concept but a weak movie with weak performances – especially from lead actor Hayden Christensen, but also from villain Samuel L. Jackson, love interest Rachel Bilson and fellow jumper Jamie bell. And then there’s Diane Lane’s inexplicable appearances. And the crappy, pretty much non-existent ending.

For me it was a disappointment – not some much because there were a few scientific glitches but mainly because of extremely lackluster acting and, for me, the fact that Christensen’s character never atones for his sins. The effects aren’t bad, but they could have been better.

While this is a movie I’ll watch again (particularly because there are likely two sequels coming), there’s very little reason you have to see this on the big screen. Wait for the DVD (rent it). And don’t worry; they’ll at least recover the costs of the Superbowl trailer ad. Dignity, that’s another story.

I really think that Keanu Reeves would have been a far better lead. Maybe the producers will get smart and use a different lead character in each sequel. Because unless Christensen learns to act and Jackson stops looking as if he’d rather be elsewhere, there’s no way the followups will be any better.