21 Jump Street (2012) - Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Synopsis:

Two underachieving police officers are sent back to high school undercover to find the suppliers behind a new synthetic drug.

Let's just start by saying I haven't seen the original 21 Jump Street so have nothing to really compare it too but this is a remake that, as a stand alone film, is a pleasure to watch. Its theme of brotherhood is strong throughout and its good to see that the drug driven story never takes away from the core which are the two opposite protagonists who through their differences are brought together to help each other become a better person. There are also some great laughs along the way.

I was afraid the film would turn into a douche-bag drug flick where the gags would centre on the funny things our characters would do whilst high but instead the humour was driven coolly by Jonah Hill and surprisingly Channing Tatum.

Obviously we have seen throughout Hill's career that he is built for comedy and this is no different. He just has this awkward kid aura about him and everything from his delivery, to his voice, to the way he moves is funny! Then you've got Channing Tatum. A guy who I don't think anyone would expect to pull off a decent performance. Yet he seems to fit right in. Of course he gets typecast immediately as the jock but to see the roles reversed as the two return to a completely different high school atmosphere allowed him to open up more as an actor and pull of an equally humorous performance. Let's be fair neither of these two are A-listers. Often Hill will be the comedy relief and if anyone believes Tatum has more star power because he's starred in a couple action epics is just kidding themselves. This film really shows what the two are capable of and they carry the film competently.

The rest of the cast does their part. Nice to see Ice Cube embrace the angry black man role with so much energy and conviction, not that it would have ever been difficult. I found the casting of the young Franco a little distracting as all I kept thinking was, “this kid looks so much like his brother”. Then, because of the nature of the plot, all I could do was relate him and the film to Pineapple Express. But as mentioned before, apart from a small bit of teenage romance and a short drug trip, this was an undercover cop movie through and through. At no point do you feel it fall into a drug or even a high school flick.

Overview:

I decent comedy to hit us in 2012. Despite a lack of criticism from me I have to be honest and say there was nothing really special about it. But it's a funny and solid ride.

Rating:
★★★