Jump

Review

By: Clement Chua

Year:  2009

Director:  Stephen Fun Tak-Lun

Producer:  Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Chui Po-Chu

Writer:   Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Tsang Kan-Cheong, Wang Yun, Stephen Fun Tak-Lun

Cast:  Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Leon Jay Williams, Yao Wen-Xue, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Fung Min-Hun, Samuel Pang King-Chi, Daniel Wu, 6 Wing, C. Kwan

Jump is produced by Stephen Chow and directed by Stephen Fung.  It is another typical love/dance cum kung fu movie. Stephen Chow is famously known as a Hong Kong actor, comedian and recently director. He directed his first movie, King Of Comedy in the late 1990s. Stephen Chow has recently been incorporating kung fu with other elements such as football in Shaolin Soccer (2001) and now dance in Jump.

Kitty Zhang is a rising star in the movie world and lands herself a major role as lead actress. ‘Playboy’ Edison Chen, supposed male lead along-side Zhang, was scraped clean from the movie due to his infamous Sex Photo Scandal. Jump removed absolutely any trace of Chen and reshot his parts with Singaporean actor/singer Leon Jay Williams. Fortunately, Williams’ parts are the least interesting.

Phoenix (Zhang) is a village girl and was trained in the martial arts by her father, a kung fu practitioner. However, her real talent and passion lies in dancing. She grasps at the first opportunity to work in the city, Shanghai, when it presented itself. She works in a garment factory and by chance, manages to land a part-time job in a dance school opened by entrepreneur and playboy, Ron (Williams). Predictable twists and turns in the story brings Phoenix into the entourage of a dance crew that eventually makes a final dance-off with the former champions – Korea – South city crew.

I find the plot of Jump to be predictable. It is a very typical love story. Village girl goes to the city, sees a wealthy, handsome playboy, falls in love with him only to be put down by the people around her and finally discovers he is true to her. The only interesting parts of the movie that actually grasps my attention for that few minutes are the slick dance moves.

Some scenes are rather captivating though, such as opening up to folk dancing and singing. But as the story progresses and these similar scenes keep replaying itself, the film becomes repetitive and boring. It will never keep up to the pace of dance movies set by foreign/English films such as Step Up, Take The Lead, Stomp The Yard, just to name a few. Also As a comedy, this film just doesn’t cut it. There are absolutely no hilarious scenes. Some were acceptably funny except they will require a few more tickles to keep the laughter going.

All in all, this movie will make good companionship for families and young teens. The film is slight, silly and completely manufactured, and all is forgiven as a few fun moments shine through.  @