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| ‘Jumper’ doesn’t go too far |
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| Written by Sarah Quallen - Argonaut | ||||||
| Tuesday, 19 February 2008 | ||||||
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Teleporting sounds fun. Even immersing one’s self into a fantasy movie and watching someone teleport around the world sounds fun. Unfortunately, “Jumper” is not. There is potential, however, with cool special effects and an exciting story. There’s so much possibility when the main character has the entire world in which to cause trouble. So much for potential. Sadly, two excellent and well-known actors, Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson, went slumming for their roles in “Jumper.” Christensen, probably best known for his prestigious role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, is visually pleasing, which only makes the movie slightly more palatable. His character is troubled — dear mom left when he was five, and daddy is not such a great dad. But this fact is only told through Christensen’s voice-over and, as the story develops, it appears as though Christensen may have been lying. Or he doesn’t know what makes a good dad. In the end, it’s much easier to like Dad than it is to like Christensen. Christensen is a “jumper.” Jumpers can almost instantaneously jump from one place to another: from the Eiffel Tower to the Sphinx, or from the kitchen table to the refrigerator. He discovers his ability when he is 15-years-old when he falls through some thin ice —only to land in the local library. The next step is to steal loads of cash from the bank, because teenagers will be teenagers. And he’s the good-guy? In “Jumper,” Jackson’s antagonist falls flat. Although his character is particularly malicious, he is not ‘hate-worthy.’ In fact, he is neither easy to love, nor easy to hate. He just is. Jackson’s character is reminiscent of a vampire slayer. He is a member of an organization that has always been around, and the group’s mission is to hunt and kill “jumpers.” His philosophy is that jumpers are an abomination and only God should be able to do the things jumpers can do. He is willing to destroy innocent lives to get to jumpers. And he is well financed, naturally. Of course, there must also be a love-interest. The innocent victim. She is the light of Christensen’s lonely, pathetic life. As with all stories where the protagonist has the potential to become “bad,” the love-interest is his savior. His feeling for her is what makes him “stay the path.” There is nothing interesting about her. As with all the other characters (excluding Dad), she is neither likable or dislikable. Remember, there is some redeeming value to “Jumper” — the pretty Christensen and of course, his beautiful love. Since there’s nothing else to do, drool.  Add as favorites (23) | Views: 188
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