21 Jump Street
Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Rating: R
Run Time: 1hr 49min
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Brie Larson
In the fashion of Hollywood running out of fresh ideas, Columbia Pictures takes an old television show and reinvents it for a modern audience. The newly slimmer Johan Hill and Channing Tatum take on the roles of Schmidt and Jenko, two men who were opposite sides of the social list in high school but now police buddies. After one big goof up on the job they are sent to a small undercover unit only known by its location down on 21 Jump St. There they are tasked to infiltrate a high school as students and take down a drug ring based in the school.
The actors put their all into the characters to get the crowd laughing. Hill is great as Schmidt, a nerd that is now popular his second time around. He does well in every element of comedy from delivery of lines to facial expressions and physical comedy. Tatum does a pretty good job as the Jenko, a jock back in the day now living the nerd life when he goes back to high school. Though he still seems stiff, like in many of his films, it kind of works at points for Tatum. Then when Tatum loosens up he gets you laughing since it seems extra funny because he and his character are doing things you would not expect.
The script it’s self is a little over the top at times but that is where the humor lies. Hill and Michael Bacall, who both developed the story with Bacall getting screenplay credit, just decided to through ideas out there and possibly not have a filter. If there was some kind of filter or cap put on some of the ideas that they had for situations, I would be surprised based on some of the raunchy jokes and situations in the film. The craziest stuff did not make it to the television commercials so there still is plenty to be shocked by. Which is a reminder to those that have kids, this is a “R” rated movie and not really good for children.
So if you are looking for any remnants of the original show from the 1980s there are a few in the film but mostly this film could stand on its own. If you are looking for a little outrageously ridiculous film for next weekend grab a ticket for the film. If you don’t catch it in the theaters there is no shame in waiting for it to hit DVD or Blue Ray.
