The screenplay contains some poor dialogue and does not do anywhere near a good job of delivering any type of exposition. We learn very little of the bigger picture, nor of any personal connections. Whether or not this was a part of earlier script drafts, I do not know, but if there was any vision to the story, it did not make it to the shooting version.

For the most part, the cast works quite well. Samuel L. Jackson can prove an imposing presence, and he almost does so here. Rachel Bilson, as the love interest, is absolutely adorable and proves to be a decent presence. Then there is Jamie Bell as another jumper named Griffin, he provides a suitably roguish presence that works quite well. Now, the weakest part of the cast is the lead, Hayden Christensen. I think we may have a new big screen 2x4, overtaking the perennial winner Keanu Reeves. His work here is, well, flat is a kind way of putting it. Not once did I believe he was David.

With writing and casting out of the way, we land on direction. Doug Liman fills that role and he brings a good deal of experience on a series of successful films, including Mr. & Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity. With those films on his resume, one could safely assume that he would bring that edge of your seat excitement and popcorn munching aesthetic to his latest project.

Unfortunately, his skills on past films did not follow him to this one. Jumper is, quite frankly, a mess. There is no sense of direction; scenes jump from one to another with no sense of flow or reason for being. I have to wonder just what it was that Liman was thinking when shooting the scenes. I cannot believe that this is what he had in mind. Perhaps the editor is to blame?

Jumper's flow is shockingly bad. It is rare to come across a film that has as little internal continuity as this. This is a movie that should be able to trade on the wonder it should induce. It is a movie that has plenty of backstory to trade for audience thrills. What happened? I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but it is a valid question.

There is one scene when David returns home to find Samuel L. Jackson's character, Roland, in his apartment. There is a brief talk followed by a big fight, which finds our hero barely escaping with his life. Shortly after this event, meaning immediately following, David returns to his hometown and promptly hooks up with his childhood sweetheart. What? Was something skipped? Are we missing a reel? Seriously, following the events and revelations of your Roland encounter, you think the best thing to do is try and get a date? I have to believe that there would be bigger things on your mind than that.