Jumper - C

In theaters. PG-13, 90 minutes

Director Doug Liman’s career trajectory is a disappointing but predictable one. After beginning with a simple character-based story (Swingers (1996)– A-), his next outing (Go (1999) – B+) was still character-based, but structurally more complex, telling 3 interwoven stories that succeeded despite being a little too hip and smart for its own good. Hollywood money came calling and Liman answered in the form of the franchise-starting The Bourne Identity (2002) – B. It’s a great action movie, but the bigger the budget, the louder and more frenetic the movie. Liman still managed some pretty good characters (especially Chris Cooper and Brian Cox), but he seemed too focused to make his political point. Liman then opted for his first simple concept: “Married assassins are hired to kill each other.” Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) – (B-) is a triumph of style over substance. Out with the actual characters, in with the movie stars – not that there’s anything wrong with that. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are infinitely watchable, but it’s Vince Vaughn who inevitably steals the show. But there’s too much music, too much editing, and too many pat answers for it to be considered very good. (Click below for Jumper)

Jumper is a great concept woefully underdeveloped. If you’ve seen the preview, you’ve basically seen the entire movie. Hayden Christensen is able to teleport himself all over the world and is being pursued by a white-haired Samuel L. Jackson. Christensen meets up with Jamie Bell, another teleporter who’s been “jumping” longer so he knows some extra tricks and more importantly – how to avoid Jackson. Bell is excellent here – way too good for this movie. As the love interest, Rachel Bilson is cute as can be but is given zero to do except wait for Christensen to tell her that he can teleport.

As the lead, Christensen holds it together pretty well but his character is a jerk, only using his special power to rob banks and hang out on top of the Sphinx. There’s no character development and hardly a plot. The film feels like half a movie, completely missing a third act and half of a second. The special effects are effective, but hardly special. The locations (including the Colosseum) are spectacular (kudos to using the actual locations) but this thing’s all surface beauty and void of any charm – or character. C