Jump Tomorrow

This is an outstanding film, everyone gave a wonderful performance and they were obviously having a good time also. It did not have to compete with the set locations or special effects. The lead actor who played George had never acted before, are you kidding me? Hard to believe how much fun this movie was. If you have missed this movie you missed a comedy gold mine- like a certain cast member taking a bath in a champagne glass! This movie needs to be re-released or something, it did not get the credit it deserved.

As in reply to an earlier post, I do not think the story line referred to the wonders-of-a-Latin-American-family-making-your-life-worth-living as much as it showed how wrong it was to base all of your actions in your life on the opinions of family members that seemed more concerned with appearances than with you. Alicia's family was not worried about the fact that she was backpacking across the country with a pretentious, conceited white guy-that was her business. They were just glad that she was home and proud to share their home and culture with her friends. George could see this was how family was supposed to be and this was a safe place to open up. Also introduced him to more of Alicia's charms I must admit. But still all in all, she could have been Polish or Israeli for all that-it was still a welcoming family. Can they help it that Latin Americans are just more fun than your average Nigerian? (kidding!)

This is what a genuine love story should be all about. I was amazed I had never heard of this film and how truly good it is. The writing, directing and acting are truly superb. All the characters are likable, except the obvious ones, and one seems to form a bond with them. Whether it be true friendship, love, emotions, feelings... well, this film has it all. There is great chemistry between Adebimpe and Verbeke. Girardot serves as a dysfunctional guardian angel to Adebimpe and as comic relief in scenes where there is supposed to be some tension. Although, this film is completely hilarious. Love may not be a science, but it is honestly such a complex subject to understand. Just go with the flow and watch this excellent film.

Jump Tomorrow is one of those smart and funny films you just can't help but like. A first time effort from writer/director Joel Hopkins , Jump Tomorrow is a fresh breath of air and an absolute relief from the bevy of re-hashed romantic comedies which find their way into theaters. At the center of Jump Tomorrow is George (portrayed by first time star Tunde Adebimpe), a very serious, composed, and all too contained Nigerian. At times George reminds me of Woody Allen or M. Hulot as he awkwardly stumbles through his life on a journey to the inevitable. But it's the journey that has an impact on George and watching that change is both humorous and entertaining.

Joel Hopkins has a lot of the same qualities as director Wes Anderson (who directed the fantabulous Rushmore) - he has a sense of framing, music and pacing that is funny, but not at the expense of the characters. Over the course of the movie you really get to know and like these characters, feel for their struggle and can revel in their personal triumphs. It's rare that you get that from a Romantic Comedy, and for that I'd definitely recommend Jump Tomorrow. Think of it as the perfect 'indie' date movie!

A low-budget romantic comedy - one of many in recent years, unfortunately - with unfunniness in all of its inglorious drawn out entirety. Indie movies used to be - whether good or bad - fairly original and stayed away from some basic Hollywood cliché genres: such as the romantic comedy. With all those Grant/Bullock or Hanks/Ryan or Clooney/Pfeiffer sappy movies around, why would an "auteur", an "indie rebel", dirty his hands with that clap-trap? He would, and he will and he wants to because he is a BAD "auteur".

Written/directed by a certain Joel Hopkins, the movie is predictable and dull. The black guy and the attractive female cast are likable enough, but the movie treads very familiar territory. The guy who is supposed to be French (but has more of a Spanish accent, the twit) is supposed to provide most of the laughs but the script is crap and he has no talent. It's sort of like a Hal Hartley film, minus the good dialog and the originality.

George is a young Nigerian American who is due to get married to Sophie, who is coming from Nigeria. George is one day late to pick her up from the airport and she has gone ahead to Niagara Falls for their wedding. George bumps into Gerard, who is on the point of suicide from unreturned love, and the pair travel up to Niagara Falls. On the way George meets Alicia, herself in a relationship and he begins to fall for her.

Extended from a short I haven't yet seen (Jorge) this film attracted me as it was part of a season of `indie' films and shorts being shown on channel 4. From the opening scenes it was apparent that this film had a nicely comic tone to it that was amusing. The plot is also `nice', a romance without ever getting too heavy or too sickly sweet. The comic feel running through the film keeps it amusing even when nothing much happens.

The film's weakness is that it is clearly made by a director of shorts. The feel of the film is like that of many short films – development is not the key and it assumes we sort of know the characters well enough after only a few minutes. Similarly the film feels very episodic – the scenes don't flow into each other but feel more like they are very distinct and separate events. However that said the film is still entertaining but it didn't give me more as the film went on – rather just more of the same. I enjoyed the film but it's hard to praise it simply because it doesn't excel itself in any one area but drifts along amiably enough.

Part of the reason I enjoyed the film was a great lead by Adebimpe, who fits the role like a glove! He is suitably uptight and is very good as George. Verbeke's Alicia is not as good but is `nice'. Girardot is great fun and really gives the film some energy.

Overall I enjoyed this film and many others will as long as you're in the mood for something slight. If you expect something more substantial then you may be disappointed as this really is a film with all the qualities of a short – in some cases this is good and in others it is a weakness. Generally the film was `nice', I neither loved nor hated it but did enjoy it – I just can't find a better way of putting it as I did think it was remarkably middle of the road in many regards.