'21 Jump Street' - Jump in! It's actually funny!
You may (or may not) remember '21 Jump Street' as the late 80's series by Stephan J Cannell that gave Johnny Depp his start. It was a cheesy and often ridiculous series that was the first breakout hit for the new network Fox. At first, I thought another tired retread of a TV series was the worst idea ever. As it turns out, I couldn't have been more incorrect. The new '21 Jump Street' is a very funny and often affectionate satire of the series. Never once does it take itself serious; even better, the actors themselves seem to be enjoying the ride.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are loser cops who are selected to be a part of a high school undercover operation to root out a new synthetic drug. As usual, Hill turns in a very funny as well as touching performance as Schmidt, the former high school nerd who is equally nerdy as a cop. Channing Tatum was the big surprise for me, as Jenko, the former popular kid who skated his way through high school on his looks and charms; Tatum seems to have a great deal of fun making light of his good looks. He seems to have a natural ability for comedy, hopefully he will continue to play on this strength!
The film had some tricky shoes to fill. It could have been a straight up action film or, even worse, could have lampooned the series with on the nose jokes and a 'Police Academy' feel. Instead, writers, Michael Bacall, Jonah Hill, Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J Cannell (who actually created the show), took the basic idea, made a little fun of it in the beginning and then went forward in a very original manner. The nods to the original series play well and are done in good humor; the humor that follows tends to be a little more on the frat boy side but offers plenty of belly laughs!
Hill and Tatum are cops freshly minted into the force. Jenko (Tatum) is the tough but dimwitted one who skated by high school with only his charm and popularity. Schmidt (Hill) is the dumpy nerd who led a life living in the shadows of the hallways, a target for the popular kids like Jenko. When the two former classmates find themselves in the Academy together, they form a friendship, Jenko helping Schmidt pass the physical exams and Schmidt helping Jenko pass the mental exams. Each uses their strengths as they become friends and partners, inept partners, but partners none the less. After a failed arrest they are banished to a newly revived program, 21 Jump Street, simply because they look young and the Captain no longer wants to deal with them.
Ice T is perfect as the angry Captain of 21 Jump Street - even admitting to the fact that he is an angry captain. His delivery of lines are perfect, showing that he has a real knack for comedy as well. The actual crime part of the story is really just there to move the movie along. The movie is really about Scmidt and Jenko's reintegration into high school and the role reversal that follows. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller mine a lot of gags successfully from this switch in fortunes. Hill as always is solid as the nerd who suddenly finds himself one of the popular guys and Tatum is a perfect foil for him, complimenting Hill well and in many cases carrying the scenes with his dense doofus responses.
The gags are funny, the characters work, the actors play well together and '21 Jump Street' never tries to be more than it is; a goof ball buddy comedy that works on many levels. Surprisingly good, this 3 star effort is one to catch!