Jumper

Wouldn't it be nice to just zip into a bank, load your purse (or should I say, “load a bag”) over and over again, without causing any suspicion or raising any alarms? On the other hand, if this sounds so bizarre, how about randomly zipping and zapping around the world, without the aid of a bus, train or airplane? You could be in Egypt at dawn, Fiji at noon and England or Tokyo at night...awesome, right?

This is the premise behind director Doug Liman's new film, Jumper. A young man, (Hayden Christensen), discovers he possesses the exhilarating ability to instantly teleport anywhere in the world he can imagine. That is until he begins to see that his freedom is not total and that he's not alone. Soon enough, he learns he is part of an ongoing, global war...which threatens the very survival of his “rare” and “extraordinary” kind.

While this picture sounds promising it leaves audiences asking a lot of questions. So don't get your hopes too high. For instance, how and why do certain individuals jump? Is there a scientific/medical or mythological reason? Why do “paladins” hate “jumpers?” How do they (“paladins”) get off with torturing and killing people? And do jumpers use their powers for good? (Other than robbing banks on a full-time basis, surfing and hooking up with hot blonde chics?)

Although Liman did a much more superb job directing Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as well as the Borne Identity, the same cannot be said here. Jumper is a Sci-Fi, Action gimmick that not only leaves viewers puzzled but also offers little or no closure.

That said, Christensen is wonderful to watch on screen, despite the fact that both character and story development are weak. He displays a helpful vulnerability that leaves one pleasantly surprised and proves how good of an actor he is becoming. I can sense we will be seeing a lot more of him in future. Blison's performance somewhat stands out, however due to poor writing she seems confined to more of a prop than an actual character.