Before 21 Jump Street was released there were not many movie lovers who were expecting it would be a movie worth watching. Several TV shows were already turned into movies (Miami Vice and The A-Team are just two of them) and in general they were of inferior quality, not being able to make the concept of the TV show shine in movie format. 21 Jump Street managed to surprise though, partly because it made fun of the fact it was a remake of a TV series, but also because of the chemistry between Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. It was a fun, entertaining comedy which was very successful and of course that means a sequel would be made.
The result is 22 Jump Street. Usually sequels to comedies will disappoint because they try to do the exact same thing and it simply doesn’t work again (Analyze That, The Hangover 2). But is this movie able to also surprise people in a positive way like the original did?
Not a lot needs to be said about the plot of this movie: It is exactly the same as its predecessor. The same team has to search for a drug dealer again at a school. What 22 Jump Street manages to do though is take that same setup and actually make fun of it and show that it knows how ridiculous that is. It constantly references that they are doing the same thing, only this time with a bigger budget. That approach actually works very well. It is clear that Tatum and Hill are having fun with their roles and the amount of jokes is high.
When you look at the directors of this film it is no surprise that this sequel turned out so well, Phil Lord en Christopher Miller. These gentlemen were also responsible for The Lego Movie and the script for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. They seemed to have found the golden formula for good comedies. Jokes are made about the actors themselves (an example is when it is mentioned that it would be better for Tatum’s character to work as a secret service agent at the White House, referencing White House Down), but it also takes conversation you normally only hear in romantic comedies and applies them to the buddy cop genre. The movie does feel slightly too long (about 10 to 15 minutes could have been left out), but despite that it is one of the better comedies out this year.
Good review Nostra. Laughed plenty during this. Not nearly as much as I did with the first, but still enough to assure me that anything either of these people do will be hilarious.
Thank you Dan. It was a lot of fun, wasn’t it? I think I laughed about the same with both.
I think I’m one of the few people who actually enjoyed both Miami Vice and The A-Team movies, in fact I thought they’re better than the TV version. But then again those TV shows weren’t that great to begin with, lol.
As for 22 Jump Street, I had a blast with it. I agree it’s a bit too long but I was entertained.
Hahaha, I loved the A-Team series but I agree they weren’t great….but I was a little boy when I watched them and then they were awesome 🙂
Good to hear you also enjoyed this one.
Scratch another notch in Lord and Miller’s belt for another successful achievement – a worthwhile sequel! I enjoyed the original 21 Jump Street, so I am glad to hear this one is just as watchable.
Exactly. It really manages to hold up, something not a lot of sequels are able to do.
The film is hilarious. Tatum and Hill work so well together and to be honest my favourites scene where with them and Ice Cube.
Great Review
“We Jump Street, and we ’bout to jump in yo ass. Jenko: Mmmm-hmmm. Schmidt: Right in the crack.”
Hahaha, the Ice Cube scenes are my favourite ones as well….as is the bit where Hill plays a Mexican.
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Fine review my friend. I despised the first movie so I really can’t see myself getting into this one. It has made a load of money though.
Thanks Keith. I guess if you didn’t enjoy the first one then staying away is the best thing to do as it is the same type of movie.
Loved this film. It’s just plain fun, and shows that the directors know their genre well. The in-jokes are finely played, the plot is nicely mocked, and even the action scenes are exciting.
Only downside? No Brie Larsson.
Great to hear Chris. Didn’t miss Larsson myself.