Jumper (2008)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Doug Liman

Writers (WGA):

David S. Goyer (screenplay) and
Jim Uhls (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

anywhere is possible.

Plot:

A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Ann Arbor | Bank Vault | Vault | Ice

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 11	12:00 PM	HBO
Tue. Nov. 17	3:00 PM	HBO

Cast

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
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

Also Known As:

Hüppaja (Estonia) [et]
Jumper (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Jumper (France) [fr]
Jumper (Germany) [de]
Jumper (Greece) [el]
Jumper (Venezuela) [es]
Jumper (Brazil) [pt]
Jumper - Franchir le temps (Canada: French title) [fr]
Skakac (Serbia) [sr]
Teleport (Russia) [ru]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Norway:11 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44084) | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Malaysia:U | Sweden:11 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-13 | Italy:T | New Zealand:M | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Japan:U

Filming Locations:

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Evan Rachel Wood turned down the role of "Millie". The part eventually went to Rachel Bilson.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A London taxi has a number on the wing. Aside from a plate at the back, London taxis have no numbers on the outside.

Quotes:

[first lines]
David Rice: Let me tell you about my day so far. Coffee in Paris, surfed the Maldives, took a little nap on Kilimanjaro. Oh, yeah, I got digits from this Polish chick in Rio. And then I jumped back for the final quarter of the N.B.A. finals--courtside of course. And all that was before lunch. I could go on, but all I'm saying is, I'm standing on top of the world.

Movie Connections:

References Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)

Soundtrack:

Ahead By A Century

Getting ahead of themselves - assuming audiences will be hungry for more

To sum it up quickly: Too much setup. This entire film should have been the first half-hour of a bigger story. They try to make this just a first chapter, like an "origin" story in a superhero film, but if you're gonna spend the whole film setting up a story, and leave an ending wide open for sequels, you better be damn sure the public will actually care enough to see more. I don't think that will be the case here. Perhaps if it had been filmed and marketed as a teen flick as the book was, the series could have a longer life; but as an adult franchise I'd be surprised if there are further installments.

It wasn't a bad flick. It was a fun distraction for an hour or two, with some good action and visuals, but it was certainly nothing special. I think much of that is due to the cast. Diane Lane is always good, but she was barely in it, and Samuel L. Jackson was just distracting - partly because of the pointless white hair, and partly because pairing him with Hayden Christiansen constantly reminded you of Star Wars and took you out of the movie. The main stars, Christensen himself and Rachel Bilson, were just so...blah. I actually would have preferred if Jamie Bell had been the star instead of just a supporting role.