21 Jump Street

There is a reason I gave Project X a 5.5/10 two weeks ago; it just was not that funny. It lacked the chemistry between characters, didnt offer much in the way of innovative one-liners, and the scenarios were shallow. 


But there is a reason for movies like Project X. They serve as a sort of "control" variable that allow audiences to truly appreciate comedy gems when they see one. Wondering what gems I am talking about? Dumb and Dumber, Zoolander, Dodgeball, Anchorman, Wedding Crashers, Superbad, The Hangover, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys are some that come immediately to mind. They are all movies that are funny no matter who you are (for the most part) and will consistently put a smile on your face even years after they come out. 


It is with 100% confidence that I would like to add 21 Jump Street to that list. Yes, you heard that right. This 80's-TV-remake is a comedy gem. It is that damn funny. And whats even more surprising is that it just does not let up. Of the 109 minute run-time, I was laughing, sincerely laughing, for at least 90 solid minutes. And it's absolute surprises like these that are the reason that I love to go to the movies every week. 

Facial expressions play a huge role in the movie. A huge, hilarious, role.

The movie's plot is nothing special, but honestly, what movie does have an original plot these days? But basically, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) both become cops after high school. They end up being partners and after a gut-bustingly-bad arrest in which the Miranda Rights consist of air-humping the perpetrator and a couple of "F**k you's!" they get transferred to 21 Jump Street which is an undercover operation where immature officers go back to high school to bust various drug-related crimes. Now, I will admit, I didnt see much of the original show. And by much I mean to say any. So I have no idea what it was about. The only thing I know about it is that Johnny Depp was in it when he was younger. But I think other than the fact that they are cops in high school, there are hardly any similarities. As is the proceedings with most of these movies, a lot of funny stuff happens, and it all comes down to one throw down; prom in this particular case. 

Over the top action and funny one-liners at the same time? Check.

But seriously, who watches comedies for the plot anyways? That's what I got Inception for. Comedies need to be funny in order to work. And in this day and age, where we have an over-saturated market of comedies, you have to be REALLY funny to stand out.  Hill and Tatum are about as likely as a comedy duo as Ferrell and Wahlberg were last year in The Other Guys. But just like that movie, this one works. And dare I say it might even work better? They are two very distinct types of humor, Ferrell and Hill's comedies. But argument aside, would you be surprised if I told you that the comedic gold in 21 Jump Street is hidden within Tatum? After this movie, he may never do anything but comedies again, he is that good. His facial expressions, demeanor, and timing is at a professional level. He and Hill have ridiculous chemistry and the one-liners JUST KEEP COMING. I can hardly remember any of them because I was laughing so hard from the previous quip when the next one would roll up. On top of the perfect matching of Hill and Tatum and the wicked-quick writing, the movie knows not to take itself too seriously. It never reaches a Piranha 3D level of teasing itself, but it has no problem making fun of the fact that it is an 80's TV remake, or making fun of Hollywood cliches (everything blowing up in a car chase anyone?). 

The new comedy duo of Hollywood

So are there any downsides to 21 Jump Street? Sure. It starts to lose steam with regards to writing and funny scenarios for about 15-20 minutes in the middle-ish and I think the whole "moral of the story" about popularity was not particularly worthwhile. But other than that?


Look here my faithful reader...all I know is that comedy is fairly subjective. You either laugh or you dont. But once in a while a movie comes along that has the entire theater in fits of laughter and it ends up being successful because of word-of-mouth. Think back to The Hangover. Remember how that movie came out of nowhere? I wasn't even going to see it until someone told me how funny it was after its opening weekend. Same with Bridesmaids last year. Well now, let me be the person to tell you that 21 Jump Street is this year's version of that. It will be one of those movies that I pop in with a group of friends years from now and we all laugh our butts off even though it is the 10th time we have seen it. 


Pros:

• Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are the new hot commodity in the comedy world. Their chemistry is nearly perfect, and their timing and facial expressions nearly had me in tears at times.
• Truly funny scenarios. The opening arrest and a particular drug trip have me laughing as I write this.
• Funniest, quickest, and smartest comedic writing I have heard in a long time. I would have to watch it again, but I think it might rival Step Brothers as far as sheer numbers of quotable one-liners.
• Vulgar, but not overly so. I was never tired of the cursing, nor was I ever appalled at what I was seeing on screen. 
• Supporting cast is phenomenal. Ice Cube is outrageous and there are some priceless cameos throughout.
• Starts strong, maintains momentum throughout (for the most part), and ends just as funny as it started, especially the last "shot". And by "shot", I dont mean the last frame of the movie haha

Cons:

• Somewhere in the middle, I noticed myself laughing a little less, and getting bored ever-so-slightly
• Underlying message about popularity in high school was dumb. The much better moral of the story was about bromances

Rath's Review Score: 9.5/10