I’m not too sure the LAPD are very happy about the events portrayed in Lakeview Terrace, which hits theaters today, since Samuel L. Jackson plays a crazy cop who has a sinister hands on approach to his neighborhood. Chris (Patrick Wilson) and Lisa Mattson move into their dream house in Lakeview Terrace, everything is kittens and rainbows until they meed their new neighbor, police officer Abel Turner (Samuel L). He doesn’t take too kindly to them being an interracial couple and decides to make their lives a living hell.

Trailer Check:

Poor Chris and Lisa are probably wishing they checked out they’re neighbors more thoroughly before signing that mortgage agreement…

I get what the movie is going for, a sort modern update of Unlawful Entry or something, where you think you’re safe with a cop but actually you’re far from it. Nevertheless, the tagline just doesn’t do it for me: “What could be safer than living next to a cop?” Um, how bout almost anything if you buy what this movie is selling! I don’t know about you, but I’m a law abiding citizen and I’d still prefer to live far far away from any cop, if I can help it.

I had the luck (or was it misfortune) to see Jumper last week on my airplane ride home. It wasn’t terrible by any means. The plot fascinated me for the first 45 minutes as the movie exposes how Hayden Christensen’s character discovers his spatial defying power.

But then came Rachel Bilson riding up with that mediocre love story in her pocket. And that’s right about the time I fell asleep. She gets kidnapped yadda yadda by evil, so he must save the day. I woke up just in time for Samuel L. to receive his comeuppance.

It was a short and sweet story that didn’t really blow anyone’s minds. They didn’t really explain where his power came. But the effects helped the director (Doug Liman) build a moderate amount of suspense. At the very least, I was rooting for the main character to come out on top.

A nice airplane or trapped in a confined spaced action movie to rock you to sleep. Overall, grade B-, strictly rental. If your a Hayden completist, buy it for no more than $5.99.