Cinema This Week: 21 Jump Street

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum

What it’s about:

Channing Tatum, (Step Up, Dear John) and Jonah Hill (Knocked Up, Get Him To The Greek) star in this far-fetched, action/comedy. The unlikely duo pair up as newly trained cops Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum). They think their new career will give them plenty of opportunities to be ‘bad-asses’, however this dream soon comes crashing down when they are given bicycles and stuck on duty in the local park. An encounter during one of their patrols leads to them being transfered to the 21 Jump Street unit. Ice Cube plays the angry captain of the unit and is the one to break the news to the young cops that they are being sent back to high school, in an undercover operation to tackle the growing problem of an unidentified drug within the school. When they get there, high school is not as they remembered it. Their roles are reversed, in a mix up with their secret identities, Schmidt befriends the ‘cool kids’, while Jenko hangs out with the science enthusiasts. Plenty of their desired ‘bad ass moments’ follow, along with some drug taking and serious partying. The film shows their progression from new cops, back to immature high school boys and their development into men.

What the critics are saying:

Rotten Tomatoes call it ‘A smart, affectionate satire of ’80s nostalgia and teen movie tropes’, adding that ’21 Jump Street offers rowdy mainstream comedy with a surprisingly satisfying bite.’ The audience reaction on the site has been 90% positive, with the critics close behind giving it a rating of 85%. Another reviewer wasn’t quite as keen, saying ‘It’s not a must-see and won’t tickle your grey cells much, but as far as guilty pleasures go… this one’s enjoyable.’

Ice Cube plays the strict Captain

Who will like it:

This movie has the same outrageous, ‘teenage’ style of humour as Superbad (also starring Jonah Hill). Loaded with swearing and constant rude jokes, not one for the easily shocked. However, the majority of the film was spent in laughter. With witty one-liners and a handful of ongoing jokes, this film will appeal to most young people.

Jenko befriends the 'nerds' and is admired by his new science teacher

Rating:

Unexpectedly bloody and violent towards the end, which for some may not appeal. But nevertheless, Hill gives yet another brilliantly comedic performance and Tatum, whose characters usually lack any substance, also has his share of hilarious moments. With a cameo from one of the biggest stars in the film industry, this movie is full of welcome surprises.

Four stars for this laugh riot of a film.