I thought 21 Jump Street was going to be pants-on-head stupid. I went to see it anyway because my movie going group of friends were going to see it and I hate being left out. So I got my iced tea, popcorn, and red vines and was prepared to bide my time plotting out short stories in my head. That didn’t happen. Instead I laughed my ass off then went home to write an outstanding review for my old blog (which literally only about 6 people read.) 2 years later the sequel hits the big screen and it’s time to see if Director Phil Lord, writer Michael Bacall, and the cast can pull it off again.
The first fifteen minutes of the movie had me scared. It was funny, but it looked like it was going to be more of the same thing. My fears, however, were short lived as 22 Jump Street did follow the pattern their jokes laid out, but also took turns that I didn’t expect. That being said, if the movie HAD been a carbon copy of the first one, I would have still ended up enjoying myself as the jokes had me gasping for air. This is thanks to not just the writers, but the fantastic chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.
Now that’s a buzz word lots of reviewers throw around along with classics like triumphant or joyride. I try to avoid the typical critic terms as I, my friends, am not a critic, I’m a reviewer. However, 22 Jump Street is a fantastic example of what on screen chemistry is so I couldn’t help but bring it up. Hill and Tatum work so well together and have such great comedic timing that everything they did seemed natural. Even when they’re bumbling around trying to be sneaky spies and doing stuff no sane person would ever do, it still feels right.
Ice Cube makes a comeback and this time there was more of him that there was in the first movie. This was a welcome addition as the angry and serious Captain Dickson fed perfectly of the clueless Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum). The only problem I had with the movie is that I wish some of the other characters from 21 Jump Street were in the movie a bit more. Nick Offerman, Dave Franco, and Rob Riggle return briefly and I just wish they got a little more screen time. I know they’re not main characters in part 2, but they were really funny in their respective scenes. The group of computer nerds also made a comeback, however their addition just seemed too forced. It didn’t add anything to the movie. I don’t mind that they came back, I just wish they did more with it so I could appreciate the comeback.
The jokes in 22 Jump Street ran the gamut from stupid penis jokes to smart commentary on the movie industry. There was a small part near the end of the movie where every joke tied back in with a joke made by Ice Cube before one of the more pivotal scenes.
One of my favorite things about 22 Jump Street was one element of the plot in particular. Without spoiling anything there was some foreshadowing early on and it looked like it was coming true, however the story took an unexpected turn and ended up surprising me which thrilled me to no end. I was ready to be a little disappointed that the ending was so predictable, but when it wasn’t I couldn’t help but smile. I enjoyed 22 Jump Street from beginning all the way through the credits. There’s no stinger though, unless I missed something, but there are a bunch of hilarious extra scenes that you’d be a fool to walk out on.
If you’re a fan of comedies, hell, if you like to laugh go see this. If you loved the first one, go see this. If you hate fun and idolize Ebenezer Scrooge then stay home, suck on some lemons, and skip the funniest movie of the year.
22 Jump Street gets a 10 out of 11.