21 Jump Street

15

2012

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Of this year’s surprises that rank as the most pleasurable, 21 Jump Street ranks right up there with Joey Barton’s Twitter account, hearing someone sneeze on the train, and the announcement of an Anchorman sequel. There’s no reason why any of those things should be funny or exciting, and yet they are, they really, really are.

21 Jump Street follows the exploits of rookie cops Schmidt and Jenko (Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum), whose immaturity and baby faced complexions leads to an undercover assignment at a local high school. The calamitous due must infiltrate the students in order to discover the origins of a deadly drug dealing operation.

Just like the Johnny Depp-starring 1987 television show, Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s contemporary remake is as ridiculous as it sounds. Fortunately, if you are fully aware of your ridiculous status without any of the nasty, snideness, then fun times can be had by all. Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall’s script is both a loving tribute to and a witty send-up of the action flick. One particular standout car chase sequence makes a glorious mockery of the genre’s orgasmic love of nonsensical infernos.

However, the real stars of the show are undoubtedly Hill and Tatum. It’s been known for a while now that Hill is a rather amusing chap. His record is blotted with some glowering duds (The Sitter, 2011), but when he’s on form, you’re not likely to mistake him for an action star. Tatum, on the other hand, is not known for his chuckle-inducing performances. Most of his roles tend to involve mumbling gruffly (G. I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, 2009), beating people up (Fighting, 2009), and taking his shirt off (Step Up, 2006). And he brings all of that range to 21 Jump Street. It’s just that this time it is portrayed as the hilarious, inhuman, downright dumb behaviour it actually is. Tatum shines. His confusion at the decline of the jock leads to some winning scenes, such as his unprovoked attack on someone for studying.

21 Jump Street is clearly not a masterpiece. It still feels the need to shoehorn in a romantic subplot - although it is actually for Hill and not Tatum. A minor complaint.

The trailer made it look like the last thing a sentient being would want to sit through, but if that isn’t a reason to ignore those stupid clip shows forever than I don’t know what is. 21 Jump Street is quite comfortably one of the funniest and most downright entertaining pieces of mainstream popcorn-fodder of the year.

*** ¾ / *****