Theresa Montana Sabo said that "the action of the play dramatizes in many rich and funny ways the philosophical issues which George develops in his monologues and arguments". "The Independent"'s Robert Hanks, discussing the play in 2003, said some plot points anticipated a cabinet reshuffle by Tony Blair (which was described as revealing a thirst for radical constitutional reform), and praised "the pathos of George's situation". The critic found the philosophy dated, saying, "The kind of penny-plain, positivist approach to morality Stoppard resents has long been out of style." Still, Hanks dubbed "Jumpers" "a marvellous display of Stoppard's verbal ingenuity, with some beautifully contrived cross-purposes and neat gags". In 2003, "The Guardian"'s Michael Billington said that the politics are dated and that "his play is best in tracing the collapse of a dysfunctional marriage and the incremental humiliation of its hero."