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Title: Jumper (2008)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Hayden Christensen | ... | David Rice | |
| Jamie Bell | ... | Griffin | |
| Rachel Bilson | ... | Millie | |
| Diane Lane | ... | Mary Rice | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | ... | Roland | |
| Michael Rooker | ... | William Rice | |
| AnnaSophia Robb | ... | Young Millie (as Annasophia Robb) | |
| Max Thieriot | ... | Young David | |
| Jesse James | ... | Young Mark | |
| Tom Hulce | ... | Mr. Bowker | |
| Kristen Stewart | ... | Sophie | |
| Teddy Dunn | ... | Mark Kobold | |
| Barbara Garrick | ... | Ellen | |
 |
Michael Winther | ... | Day Bank Manager |
|
|
Massimiliano Pazzaglia | ... | Italian Desk Cop |
David Rice is a high school student in Ann Arbor, abandoned by his mother at five, living with his callous, alcoholic father, enamored with Millie, a fellow student, and picked on by at least one classmate. On a winter's day, while about to drown, he discovers he can transport himself instantaneously to anyplace on earth. He runs away from home, goes to New York City, robs a bank vault, and comes to the attention of a shadowy group of government hunters. Eight years later, the hunters, led by the murderous Roland, get a fix on David. He heads home, searches out Millie, invites her to travel with him, and only later realizes that Roland and his crew are seriously deadly. Is everyone close to David in danger? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
What would happen if you could teleport ANYWHERE in the world in the blink of an eye? Thats the question explored in Jumper, a film thats as fast and action packed as it is hollow and underdeveloped.
The films theme of individuals who can vanish and reappear anywhere they choose is a great idea but its execution is a little weak in Jumper. Why? The blame rest squarely on the films instance on being the start of a series. Instead of taking time to develop anything in the movie, Jumper just whizzes by at an incredible speed, setting up characters, ideas and plot points without expanding or resolving or developing them. The whole thing is made to kick start a franchise of films where the story would be explained in more detail, but come on man, when you pay to see a film, you expect to see a clearly defined beginning, a middle and a satisfying end- something that Jumper isn't too concerned with.
Another problem that ties in with the films lack of depth, are the actors. While Hayden Christensen is as bland as usual, the cast (including the usually electrifying Sam Jackson) just sleep walk their way through the superficial script. Only Jamie Bell gives it some effort- his cynical Irish jumper would have made a much better lead character than Anakin.
However, while the film is pretty shallow there are some glimmers of goodness. The action sequences are fun, fast and frequent, the visual effects are cool and there's never a dull moment due to the films super fast pace.
It might sound like Im being too harsh on the film but its hard not to be when the movies concept is so great and the end product is as underdeveloped as this. If the film had a more detailed, more fleshed out, more self contained story, Jumper would have been a classic.