’21 Jump Street’ Review
Written by: Matthew Mupfanochiya
Summary:
Jonah Hill’s Schmidt and Channing Tatum’s Jenko meet in high school where they face very different challenges. Schmidt cannot fit in anywhere and faces major humiliation when he asks the “hot” girl out to prom. Jenko’s problems are much more serious he can’t seem to pass a class.
Fast forward a few years and add some decent haircuts, Schmidt and Jenko meet at police academy where they look beyond school social structures and help each other to pass the academy. Our two coppers are let loose on the general public to the nation’s detriment. After botching up a park drug bust the bumbling pair are sent to the Jump Street program where they will be placed in deep cover as high school students with the aim of finding the source and supply of a new drug (HFS)
My View:
21 Jump Street is not a remake or a love letter to the original TV series – this is a standalone movie that uses the basic premise and a few character names from an existing franchise as a launch pad for a new story.
This is a comedy that simply works. There is nothing particularly new about the situations we find our characters but the jokes and the performances rise above the cookie cutter premise.
For any remake to work the certain elements of the story have to be made current and relevant to present day; this is done with great effect in 21 Jump Street. The writers successfully create a high school environment that is familiar but strangely different – this allows us as the audience relate to relate to the lead characters.
21 Jump Street is full of modern pop culture references and does not recycle any jokes. There is a nice blend of physical humour, visual cues and some brilliant on liners.
Jonah Hill is a talented actor – I did not believe this until Moneyball he brings vulnerability, accessibility to Schmidt. Channing Tatum is very likable as Jenko, while there is no great depth to his performance, his comedic timing is impeccable.
The supporting cast has a great time and deliver some genuine laughs – Ice Cube deserves special mention for is turn as captain Dixon.
Score:
This is brilliant light-hearted viewing, funny, intelligent jokes delivered well, in tightly edited motion ion picture. 21 Jump Street finds the perfect balance between not taking itself too seriously without insulting the audience. Of course there a plot holes but hey this is 21 Jump Street.
This is a fun trip to the movies
4/5.
7 Responses to “’21 Jump Street’ Review”
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Melissa Bradley says: Excellent review. As an ardent fan of the original show, I’m glad they elected to do a stand alone film. I don’t think I could have handled Tatum as Johnny Depp’s Tom Hanson. I like the guy, but Depp is light years more brilliant.
Jonah Hill’s comedic chops are some of the best right now. Still don’t think he’s got much depth as a total package actor and I thought his Academy nod for Moneyball was absolute farce. There were dozens of better performances out there.
I am looking forward to checking this film out, though.
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Hey Mel, thanks for checking out the review and for the comment!
I am absolutely not interested in ’21 Jump Street’ in the slighest and have a hard enough time suffering through anything that Channing Tatum is in and I don’t really think too highly of Jonah Hill (Get Him To The Greek is the exception) which is why is pains me to read quite an overwhelmingly positive spate of reviews about the film. I think you hit the nail on the head when you speak about the standalone film and not having the same characters being portrayed by new actors.
I can’t see myself watching it but will be interested in hearing your thoughts when you see it
Matthew says: Hey Mel, Thanks for the comment and reading – i’m very keen to hear your thoughts once you’ve seen the movie.
I’m not a huge fan of Jonah Hill, and it’s only in this film and Money ball where i found him captivating.
as for his supporting actor oscar… no comment, my theory is Hollywood are trying to give us a reason to see this next generation of ‘stars’ by giving them credibility.
Russ, – you liked get him to the Greek? i could not watch anymore than 12 minutes of that film i’ve tried twice!
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LOL! Aww Matt, I like you and get along well with you…but we’re gonna need to agree to disagree on this one!!
I have seen ‘Get Him to the Greek’ more times than I can remember! It makes the girl and me laugh every single time…
wow! 4, huh? I’m still not overly enthused to see this one, but I may give it a shot!
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Thanks for stopping by, mate! Really appreciate the comment.
Yeah, maybe it’s just me and the sense of nostalgia that I get from seeing the old gang back together again. Time will tell whether the wait has been worthwhile. I am really excited because the cinema here is having an early screening so I get to see it next Thursday night
A review will surely follow!
Great review and now I am having second thoughts about reviewing the film on my blog because you use some of thr words I was going to use (pop culture) etc.).
Although I do agree that it is not a remake, I do think it is a “love letter” to the original. The best part about the film is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and that is why everyone, including the special apperences, seem to enjoy making it .
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Excellent review. As an ardent fan of the original show, I’m glad they elected to do a stand alone film. I don’t think I could have handled Tatum as Johnny Depp’s Tom Hanson. I like the guy, but Depp is light years more brilliant.
Jonah Hill’s comedic chops are some of the best right now. Still don’t think he’s got much depth as a total package actor and I thought his Academy nod for Moneyball was absolute farce. There were dozens of better performances out there.
I am looking forward to checking this film out, though.
Hey Mel, thanks for checking out the review and for the comment!
I am absolutely not interested in ’21 Jump Street’ in the slighest and have a hard enough time suffering through anything that Channing Tatum is in and I don’t really think too highly of Jonah Hill (Get Him To The Greek is the exception) which is why is pains me to read quite an overwhelmingly positive spate of reviews about the film. I think you hit the nail on the head when you speak about the standalone film and not having the same characters being portrayed by new actors.
I can’t see myself watching it but will be interested in hearing your thoughts when you see it
Hey Mel, Thanks for the comment and reading – i’m very keen to hear your thoughts once you’ve seen the movie.
I’m not a huge fan of Jonah Hill, and it’s only in this film and Money ball where i found him captivating.
as for his supporting actor oscar… no comment, my theory is Hollywood are trying to give us a reason to see this next generation of ‘stars’ by giving them credibility.
Russ, – you liked get him to the Greek? i could not watch anymore than 12 minutes of that film i’ve tried twice!
LOL! Aww Matt, I like you and get along well with you…but we’re gonna need to agree to disagree on this one!!
I have seen ‘Get Him to the Greek’ more times than I can remember! It makes the girl and me laugh every single time…
wow! 4, huh? I’m still not overly enthused to see this one, but I may give it a shot!
Thanks for stopping by, mate! Really appreciate the comment.
Yeah, maybe it’s just me and the sense of nostalgia that I get from seeing the old gang back together again. Time will tell whether the wait has been worthwhile. I am really excited because the cinema here is having an early screening so I get to see it next Thursday night
A review will surely follow!
Great review and now I am having second thoughts about reviewing the film on my blog because you use some of thr words I was going to use (pop culture) etc.).
Although I do agree that it is not a remake, I do think it is a “love letter” to the original. The best part about the film is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and that is why everyone, including the special apperences, seem to enjoy making it .