Ronni and I saw Jumper last night.
I don’t think I can really spoil this movie. There just isn’t enough twists and turns (I think most of the “surprises” are not likely to be real surprises). So no need for the the spoiler protector.
The movie was basically mindless fun. There was nothing here that suggests it’s a substantial story. But at just about an hour and a half, it does what it does pretty well. It’s a fun movie, and I didn’t expect much more.
There is nothing startling new about the plot. But the pacing is good, so I didn’t think the movie dragged.
The movie does feel like it’s a set up for further films. This movie lays out the premise. But neither of the two main characters (Hayden Christensen’s David Rice and Samuel L. Jackson’s Roland) really seem like good guys. David has this amazing power, but uses it for personal gain. Roland seems like a violent fanatic. Not exactly sympathetic characters. Though David’s friend/love-interest, Millie, does provide him with a human touch, which makes him more sympathetic than Roland. And David shows a bit more moral direction than the other jumper he meets, Griffin.
(I will say, though, that Jamie Bell’s Griffin has the potential to steal the show. He is probably as committed to his view as Roland is to the opposite. But Griffin seems to have more justification. And he gets better lines.)
The basic point is that we need to know more about these characters. They need more development in order for us to feel more allegiance to one side or the other. There is clearly more story to tell here (the history of Roland’s Paladins seems an obvious place to develop in order to make us think they are the bad guys). And the filmmakers have clearly left themselves plenty of room for a sequel.
Still, despite all of that, the film is actually a lot of insubstantial fun. It is better than many of the superhero flicks in recent years, and it has a very interesting premise. (I’ve always thought teleporting would be one of the better superpowers.) And while I would have liked more, what we get is enough to enjoy the film while it’s happening.
As long as you don’t have high expectations, and as long as you don’t mind a bit hyperactive scene changing, this is a fun summer flick in February. It whets the appetite for the popcorn films coming later in the year.
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