Hayden Christensen, left, and Rachel Bilson are shown in a scene from the film, Jumper. (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox, Michael Gibson)

"Jumper" strains credulity, even for a fantasy-action film, its lead character isn't particularly likable and Samuel L. Jackson sports funny hair.

Other than that, what a movie!

At least the effects are kind of cool.

Of all its faults, "Jumper's" biggest is Hayden Christensen as David. We learn from the first scene that he is a "jumper" -- he has a genetic anomaly that allows him to teleport himself anywhere, anytime. Lunch on the top of the Sphinx? Why not?

All well and good. But David announces himself as pretty much a punk from the start, in a voiceover where he talks about "getting digits from this Polish girl," and introduces his history by saying he couldn't always flit about from place to place untethered, that he was once "a chump, just like you."

Well. Nice to meet you, too.

The flashback finds a young David (Max Thieriot) trying to impress the love of his life, Millie (AnnaSophia Robb in the flashbacks, Rachel Bilson as a grownup). Things go sour in a serious way, which is how David discovers his jumping ability. Next thing we know he's moved away from his evidently abusive father (Michael Rooker) and is robbing banks and growing into a very rich, worldly young man.

Which is where Christensen resumes the role of David. He's a happy guy, albeit with the world's shortest attention span, living his unbelievable life without consequences.

But, as Jackson's character says, there are always consequences.

Trouble is, it's not clear what they are. Or why they are.

Jackson is Roland, a "paladin" (in his case, a paladin with ridiculous white hair). They're the anti-jumpers, and how. Jackson tracks jumpers, catches them and kills them. Why?

"You are an abomination," he tells one unfortunate jumper, before gutting him. "Only God should have the power to be all places at all times."

OK then. Glad we got that straight.

And how do paladins find jumpers?

"They have a machine."

Of course, they do! Why wouldn't they?

Roland is on David's trail. So naturally David heads home, so as to endanger everyone around him, including Millie, and give Roland an obvious place to look. The only thing keeping David one step ahead -- granted, when you can teleport, they tend to be big steps -- is Griffin (Jamie Bell), another jumper who knows all about the paladins. He wants to kill Roland, Roland wants to kill David -- it's a happy little circle, really. (There are also some mommy issues floating around in there somewhere, as well.)

Penned by David S. Goyer, "Jumper" is directed by Doug Liman, who also directed "Swingers," "Go" and "The Bourne Identity." He's adept at the action sequences, which are by necessity huge. But he's saddled with a story that doesn't deliver, and in Christensen a lead who makes you want to root for Jackson, to the extent you want to root for anyone.

Mostly you envy David's powers. At least he could jump to a different theater and see a better movie.

By Bill Goodykoontz / Gannett News Service