The boys are back in school for another round of parody comedic action fun in 22 Jump Street, starring Jonah Hill (Superbad, Wolf on Wall Street) and Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Haywire). The first film, 21 Jump Street, based on the 80s television show of the same name, was a smashing success by taking a serious drama show and making a parody of it.
Not messing with success, this sequel wastes no time getting back into the hijinks of the first film. However, instead of going to High School, the duo are headed off to college to try to take down a new deadly drug, "wi-fi", which has spread like a virus around campus. During their investigation, the "partners" run into many different college situations including one-night stands, fraternities, and crazy professors.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are perfect in their roles. These two have not missed a step since the original film and were born to play the roles of officer Schmidt and Jenko respectfully. The comedic timing is perfect and the laughs come in one gut-busting laugh after another. Hill and Tatum are joined but a superb supporting cast; Peter Stormare (Bad Boys II) as Ghost, returning Capt. Dickson (Ice Cube; Friday, Ride Along) and a span of young actors cast as the college kids Hill and Tatum must interact with (including Kurt Russell's son Wyatt Russell who turned down a role in The Hunger Games series just to be in this film).
The key to the success of this film is in the genius thought process by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall that created the story. It all stems back to when Hill was asked to remake 21 Jump Street into a feature-length film. His first thought was, "hell no"; however, after thinking about it, if the film and story didn't take itself seriously and became a parody of how insane the 80s show was, it could become a good film. This time around, it included sequel jokes, the double definition of a partner, and even showed how a ten-year difference in age is a very big generation gap, and that it affects how you go on with your life.
If you are looking for a film with deep meaning, then 22 Jump Street isn't for you. However, if you want to get out of the heat for two hours this summer, have some great laughs, and come out of a film smiling, then 22 Jump Street is a movie that you should definitely check out. If this film does the business this summer that I think it will, get ready for 23 Jump Street and so on... Also, stay for the credits. You will see what I mean.
Grade: B
