George: Tunde Adebimpe	Gerard: Hippolyte Girardot
Alicia: Natalia Verbeke	Nathan: James Wilby
Consuelo: Patricia Mauceri	Sophie: Abiola Wendy Abrams
Heather: Kaili Vernoff	George's Uncle: Isiah Whitlock, Jr.
Director: Joel Hopkins

30 Second Bottom Line: A man about to get married in a few days finds that fate can change even the best-made plans. After missing his fiancé at the airport, he meets a man there whose intended fiancé rejects him. These new acquaintances spark a positive change in each of their lives.

Story Line: Everyone from the jeweler and tailor to his co workers is patting George (Tunde Adebimpe) on the back and telling him, "Smile George, you're getting married." At an office party for him he can barely manage a half smile. It's obvious George is on shaky ground. Sitting in his office cubicle, accepting congratulations, we learn that he's a gentle man as he carefully removes a ladybug from his pen rather than killing it. George looks like one of those "still waters run deep" type of guys.

George first realizes he has a problem when his fiancé is not on the plane from Nigeria when he goes to the airport to pick her up. His parents are deceased and his uncle reminds him that they would be proud of him marrying his childhood friend Sophie, who he has not seen in three years. It's less of an arranged marriage and more a matter of doing what is expected of you.

Destiny takes hold of this farcical tale as George meets two people at the airport who will change his life as much as he will change theirs. First there is Alicia (Natallia Verbeke) who is making a phone call at the cubicle next to him. After casual conversation that begins when she borrows a pen from him, Alicia invites George to a party that evening, in the manner of "oh by the way, what are you doing tonight?" Alicia is Latin and she tells George his name is pronounced "Jorge" in Spanish, which sets up a very funny recurring refrain.

While George and Alicia are saying their first hello, Gerard (Hippolyte Giradot) meets his lover and makes a proposal that is rejected on the spot. He's crushed because he is not only in love with her, but he's in love with being in love. He's French, so perhaps he should be forgiven. We learn later that he has a tendency to come on too strong, too fast. Any man whose license plate reads Amour 1 has a problem. He's a romantic's romantic … a nice guy who makes you feel nauseous.

Gerard is devastated with his rejection and when he meets George in the restroom, after literally bumping into each other and making apologies, Gerard offers George a ride, which he eventually accepts. One thing leads to another and by that evening they are at the party looking for Alicia. Gerard tries to drown his sorrows by drinking too much and we discover the meaning of the title phrase Jump Tomorrow.

George needs to get to Niagara Falls and Gerard insists on driving him there. Alicia and her fiancé Nathan (James Wilby) are going to Canada and plan to stop at her mother's on the way. However, since they don't have a car, they will be hitchhiking. As they all hit the road, their paths cross with humorous consequences. George has a sudden desire to learn to speak Spanish, so he buys teaching tapes for the car. There's a woman named Heather (Kaili Vernoff) at a "love motel" who tries to pick up George. And Consuelo (Patricia Mauceri), Alicia's mom, seems to like George more than she does Nathan.

George becomes increasingly infatuated with Alicia and the attraction is mutual. Gerard's meeting with Consuelo and their mutual love of cooking provides the opportunity for him to gain a bit of a perspective on loving.

Tell Me More About It: The soundtrack to this film is vibrantly beautifully and if I can find the link to the CD in the future, I will add it. If you know where it can be found, please send me an email and I'll add it at the top of this page. The music is original and supportive of the dialogue. As the credits rolled, the closing song's incongruous lyrical refrain, "…damn right, it's a beautiful day," seemed to keep many people in their seats thinking about what a wonderful fable this movie is. It has the flavor of The Price of Milk with its touches of realism and surrealism about things that we think either will or can never happen.

Jump Tomorrow is a film full of color and life. It has the feel of an independent film produced by a large Hollywood studio. While it's set in the US, it feels like it's in Europe, with a plane coming in from Lagos, Nigeria and Gerard's car being an old Citroen. Of course, the international cast adds to that flavor as well. Only when you realize they are driving to Niagara Falls, is it clear they are in New York or New Jersey.

Natalia Verbeke as Alicia is enchanting with her voice and eyes that remind you of Penelope Cruz. The difference is that there is something about her delivery in both what she says and does that emotionally connects to you, even in a fable, more than Cruz does in something that is serious…Blow. This is less a criticism of Cruz than how she projects on the screen and how good Natalia Verbeke is.

Jump Tomorrow is fresh and original filmmaking without being weird or corny. It's a romantic comedy with serious undertones about being who you are. Fate does affect what you do with whom, but more than anything the decisions we each make tend to determine our fate. Life has a way of going in circles and straight lines at the same time.

Tunde Adebimpe: Jorge	Hippolyte Girardot: Jesus-TV
Natalia Verbeke: To the end of the Road	James Wilby: An Ideal Husband
Patricia Mauceri: Die Hard 3	Abiola Wendy Abrams: The Next Big Thing
Kaili Vernoff: Sweet & Lowdown	Isiah Whitlock, Jr.: Goodfellas
Joel Hopkins: Jorge