For all my readers who are unsure of where this movie came from you may not be able to appreciate Nice Offerman's role. As the police captain for rookie cops Schmidt and Jenko, played by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum respectively, he tells them the department is reviving a program they used back in the eighties. This is just one of the many nods to both the industry and the source material. It was also one of the many laugh out loud moments of this movie. It is easy to be suspect of a movie from an old TV show; I mean we were all there for Miami Vice. But get past whatever prejudices you may have because the movie version of 21 Jump Street may be the funniest movie to come out this year.The original 21 Jump Street featuring Johnny Depp, who has a fantastic cameo and looks very handsome in this picture, had a lot of teachable moment, dealing with issues from AIDS to child abuse. That shit has gone out the window and the whole tone has got a lot raunchier. But the laughs aren't just a bunch of fart jokes, there are plenty of smart jokes, quick pop culture references, and well played bits sprinkled throughout the movie. And for what is essentially a buddy cop movie it bridges the gap perfectly between slapstick and action genre.
Directing tandem Phil Lord and Chris Miller who previously worked on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs make the move into live action seem effortless when previous projects like John Carter prove that is not the case. Clearly having watched an episode or two of the series before they are able to incorporate some of the old show into the movie. But if you are looking for a faithful adaptation than you are going to be disappointed. The duo are quick to change the tone and inject the project with plenty of laughs. And they have an outstanding cast to deliver the jokes.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum jump into their comfort zone as the nerd and the hunk respectively in the beginning of the movie, and while this tandem may seem an unlikely duo they play against each other pitch perfectly. Jonah Hill puts plenty of his perfect placed comedy into the movie. In fact as an executive producer and writer for the movie, he added quite a bit of the raunchy levity that he is known for. But what may be underappreciated from this Oscar nominated actor is that he can also bring a lot of heart to the movie. But the X-factor may be Channing Tatum. The tough cop in this genre usually plays the movie pretty straight and usually is much more of a reactionary. Tatum is actually pretty funny in this movie, has a lot of solid lines, he is great with his character in the role reversal, and (while surprising to no one) has a FANTASTIC dumb face. Also I'm sure the women will enjoy his abs.
All the actors are fantastic in the movie; Ellie Kepler, Chris Parnell, and Jake Johnson all have bit parts as teachers at the school but each have great laughs. But possibly the best smaller role is Ice Cube as the chief of the department. In the series the chief was obviously a hard ass, as the chief is supposed to be in this genre but he kicks it up a level with some well timed lines, vulgar language, and smart observations.
I can't think of a movie that has so many laughs coming at you so quickly since Bridesmaids. The ratio actually is reminiscent of The Naked Gun series, the only difference is the tone changes in the beginning of the third act while they try and raise the stakes. While The Naked Gun movies knew how to stay goofy the entire time, Jump Street tries to become more compelling, but by the climax of the movie they are back into the laughs ending the movie on a high note.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum jump into their comfort zone as the nerd and the hunk respectively in the beginning of the movie, and while this tandem may seem an unlikely duo they play against each other pitch perfectly. Jonah Hill puts plenty of his perfect placed comedy into the movie. In fact as an executive producer and writer for the movie, he added quite a bit of the raunchy levity that he is known for. But what may be underappreciated from this Oscar nominated actor is that he can also bring a lot of heart to the movie. But the X-factor may be Channing Tatum. The tough cop in this genre usually plays the movie pretty straight and usually is much more of a reactionary. Tatum is actually pretty funny in this movie, has a lot of solid lines, he is great with his character in the role reversal, and (while surprising to no one) has a FANTASTIC dumb face. Also I'm sure the women will enjoy his abs.
All the actors are fantastic in the movie; Ellie Kepler, Chris Parnell, and Jake Johnson all have bit parts as teachers at the school but each have great laughs. But possibly the best smaller role is Ice Cube as the chief of the department. In the series the chief was obviously a hard ass, as the chief is supposed to be in this genre but he kicks it up a level with some well timed lines, vulgar language, and smart observations.
I can't think of a movie that has so many laughs coming at you so quickly since Bridesmaids. The ratio actually is reminiscent of The Naked Gun series, the only difference is the tone changes in the beginning of the third act while they try and raise the stakes. While The Naked Gun movies knew how to stay goofy the entire time, Jump Street tries to become more compelling, but by the climax of the movie they are back into the laughs ending the movie on a high note.
This may be the surprise of the season, and I'm sorry if I ruined it for you but I feel like there are many of you that will still not believe me. This is an unlikely pairing of lead actors, from a relatively unknown directing duo who are reviving an old 80's project. The cards are stacked against it for sure and many of you may refuse to see it for all the reasons listed above. But let me tell you this is a great movie and I encourage you to go out and see 34 Jump Street, no wait, that doesn't sound right. A-
I scoffed at Jim and Ryan when we talked about it this past weekend, but then I started poking around. . .yours is not the first review with such positive things to say, but it is obviously the most important :P So I shall definitely put it on the To See list.
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