Jumper

An 88-minute flop

By BRETT MICHEL | February 13, 2008

1.5 Stars

JUMPER: Hayden Christensen is no Matt Damon.

Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson have jumped from one of the longest science-fiction properties (Star Wars) into one of the shortest. At 88 minutes, Bourne Identity director Doug Liman’s latest is all set-up and no payoff, a redundant special-effects reel spread across two acts; by the time the credits roll, you’ll be thankful. Not that Jumper doesn’t have an intriguing premise –– Steven Gould’s 1992 novel sounds like a good read –– but Liman, who told me that he wants an audience to “love” his latest anti-hero, expects a miracle. David Rice is awfully smug as a youth blessed with the gift of teleportation — using his power to rob banks and fuck girls across the globe should be fun, but Christensen is no Matt Damon. Once Roland, Jackson’s ridiculous religious zealot, shows up, you hope he’ll dispatch David. Life and this movie are too short to have to put up with the little shit. 88 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Chestnut Hill + suburbs

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