Review: 21 Jump Street

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You are some Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus lookin' mother fuckers.

The 21 Jump Street remake wasn't intended to be a comedy until star/writer Jonah Hill came on board. When I first read about this film being rebooted with Hill and Channing Tatum of all people I immediately was against it. Soon the trailers and TV spots slowly started to win me over. Finally I read that Johnny Depp had a cameo and I was in.

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) were enemies in high school. They join the police force after they graduate and book smart Schmidt and psychically fit Jenko realize they need each other and soon become best friends. After they graduate from the academy, they soon end up on an undercover project as punishment for not reading the Miranda Rights to a man they arrested. They have to go undercover as high schoolers to bust the dealer and supplier of a new drug on the market that's making it's way through the school. Seven years is a long time, and high school is completely different from what the two remember.

Besides the fact that Dave Franco and Brie Larson don't look anything like high schoolers, 21 Jump Street was hilarious. The first half of the film I found myself laughing harder than I have at anything in a long time. The 2nd half drags a bit and becomes terribly predictable, but thankfully an amusing 3rd act brings it back up to speed. Tatum should stick to raunchy comedy, he's much better suited for this than drama. Academy Award Nominee Jonah Hill once again proves why he's one of the go to guys for comedy these days. Normally I would say he's playing the same character over and over, but Moneyball kind of defeats my argument. The movie set totally set up for a sequel, and judging by how it's currently doing at the box office, I can see it in it's future. However I don't know if they'll be able to top the scene of Schmidt and Jenko reeking havoc around the school while they are completely tripping balls.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B+

Memorable Quote: "Fuck science!" - Jenko (Channing Tatum)

Comments

  1. Candice FrederickMarch 19, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    dammit. it pains me to read so many positive reviews of this movie. i'll have to rent it now lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dan O.March 20, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    Hill and Tatum are great together here and add a lot to this film’s comedy but it’s just the way it is all written that makes it even richer. It’s making fun of those high school comedy conventions but at the same time, is inventing it’s own as it goes on. Great review. Give mine a look when you can.

    ReplyDelete

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