Jumper

Doug Liman has had his ups and downs as a director. Coming off of the brilliant Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as well as the Bourne Identity and Swingers, he has become a big name in the action film genre. Somebody called this movie "The Matrix meets Bourne" and they must have been watching a different film than I was.

The tagline "Anywhere is possible" almost holds true. The premise of the film is that Hayden Christiansen, a 15 year old boy, discovers the ability to teleport to anywhere that he has seen with his own eyes. Initially it is an accident, but as with any superhero flick, he harnesses his power and begins to enjoy it. Presumed dead, he disappears for the next 8 years, travelling, stealing money and womanizing.

The visual effects are pretty impressive, but they do get old quickly. The jumper runs into another jumper with similar powers, his old high school flame, and the obligatory government agency that is chasing jumpers and killing them. This is where the movie gets ridiculous (as if it weren't already).

Rachel Bilson is drop dead gorgeous in the cutest girl-next-door way possible, but either she is the worst actress of this generation, or her character intentionally lacked any intellectual depth. Either way, it was annoying. The other jumper, played by Jamie Bell is the typical veteran who has all the answers, but is a loner and refuses to share information or resources. Samuel Jackson plays the leader of the mysterious agency, and makes a noble attempt at cool with bright white hair, but fails miserably because there is no development or explanation. Who funds the agency? Why are they chasing the jumpers? There is a laughable veiled explanation that teleporting is unnatural, and only God should be omnipresent. That doesn't hold much water, especially for a global travelling team of hunters equipped with the latest in wormhole technology (insert barfing sound here).

As expected, Christiansen puts himself, the other jumper, and Bilson in danger, but the reality is that they are all idiots. The hunters are equipped with high-tech stun guns that deliver massive amounts of voltage to the jumpers and inhibit their ability to concentrate on a place to teleport. The problem that I have is that if I had the ability to teleport, I would make sure that I never got caught in an electrically charged net. Christiansen should have done the same. Bell should have done the same. The movie would have been decent had they been wise enough to protect themselves.

I can suspend belief for a movie, but when it jumps the tracks of its own logic and rules, I get a little upset. The kicker came at the end, when there is a revelation about Christiansen's lineage. Possible sequel? Who knows. Hopefully the film won't make enough money to be considered for further production.

The effects and the premise were great. Even the allusion of superhero powers used for a self-promoting purpose is appealing. I liked that he didn't put on a costume and save innocent people. I kind of liked that he burgled banks, womanized and enjoyed his peaceful existence traipsing around the world, lounging atop the Sphinx or drinking at a pub in Ireland. The possibilities are endless. The problem comes in when the love interest is a complete dolt and the parameters of the superpowers are suddenly compromised by illogical elements.

I suppose that it would be too fantastic otherwise, but what began as a great idea was released as a pretty horrible movie. 6/10, for the idea and effects alone.