There are only two reasons I went to watch 21 Jump Street. The first reason was the recollection of my brother watching the TV series when we were young; the second: that Johnny Depp, who starred in the 80s series, would make an appearance in the film.
Its basic premise – as in the TV show – is that of a group of cops selected for a special unit, based at 21 Jump Street, because they look young enough to pass for high school students, thus allowing them to infiltrate various schools as undercover cops.
I normally appreciate a self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek film, which is what 21 Jump Street tries to be by ripping off action and buddy-cop films, while simultaneously poking fun at itself; but considering that Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg got there first with Hot Fuzz, I felt a bit affronted. Having said that Monty Python borrowed from The Goons; thus I must relent that a lot of comedy reuses and restyles older forms in order to entertain a new generation – although the repeated Point Break and Bad Boys 2 rip-offs were a little too much “copy and paste” for me.
The two stars, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, make the perfect oddball couple in this latest addition to the newly-labelled bromance genre. Their reversal of roles, as the nerdy Hill accidentally lands on the track team and the brawny Tatum finds himself amongst the chemistry geeks, provides a lot of laughs. Grudgingly, I must also admit that Jonah Hill is growing on me as an excellent comedian.
Hot Fuzz is a lot smarter and slicker and, despite its farcical nature, still manages to deliver valid commentary amid the riotous fun; whereas 21 Jump Street is just ridiculous entertainment. Although it initially comments on today’s youth being different from that of 20 years ago, and depicts them as more tolerant, it ultimately ends up mocking them.
Despite any faults it may have, it is perfect popcorn fare and the absolute highlight of the film are the cameos by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise, the stars of the original show. As silly as it sounds, I felt such a rush of pride and satisfaction as the entire audience applauded and cheered when Depp popped up on screen. Eliciting a reaction like that is worth far more than any Oscar.
In line with the comedy norms of the day, and taking it further with a bit of unexpected gratuitous violence, it also serves as a trip down memory lane for the somewhat older folk.
Originally published on Dinner and a Movie
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