Released on March 16, 2012, “21 Jump Street” attracted viewers who expected to see some of their favorite actors star in an amateur film about parties and cops, as well as get a couple of laughs from poorly-crafted and idiotic dialogue; yet, much to everyone’s surprise, “21 Jump Street” exceeded all expectations. Instead of a slipshod performance and a pointless plot, the movie—starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill—keeps the audience in hysterics for all 109 minutes.
In high school, Schmidt (Hill) was never considered part of the popular crowd. Adopting a Slim-Shady persona, he was constantly tormented by those higher up on the social ladder, including Jenko (Tatum)—one of the most popular kids in school. After graduation, the two reunite at the Police Academy and become fast friends after discovering a way to utilize each other’s capabilities— Jenko’s athleticism and Schmidt’s book smarts— in order to survive training. Unfortunately for them, the levels of danger and action in the public park they are assigned to patrol do not live up to their dreams of life in the fast lane, which are characterized by car chases and explosions. Soon, the two find themselves in trouble after getting too carried away with their first arrest, and they are given one more chance to prove that they have what it takes to be real cops.
Their new mission is to infiltrate a drug ring that is dealing a new, highly dangerous synthetic drug known as HFS. Assuming the fake identities Brad and Doug, the duo is sent to a local high school that is supposedly crawling with the illegal substance, and they must pretend to be students in order to find the supplier and terminate the distribution altogether. Upon returning to high school, the pair is completely in awe of the drastic change in dynamics of the culture, fashion, and structure of the social pyramid, which leads them to wonder just how much has changed since they were real students. In a strange turn of events caused by a simple identity swap, the cops undergo a surprising role reversal in which Schmidt seems to fit in with the popular kids and Jenko (former jock and football player) befriends the nerds of the school. The many antics—along with the sheer idiocy and immaturity of the two main characters—keeps viewers laughing throughout the entire movie and begging for more once it is over.
The best aspect of the film is undoubtedly the cast and its seemingly effortless compatibility. On screen, the two actors unite to introduce a “bromance” unlike any other; Hill and Tatum’s characters seem to share a bond comparable to that of two brothers who have been best friends since the beginning. The acting is perfection, and the two deliver each line with the ideal amount of comedy, sincerity, and sarcasm needed for a given scene. Funny guy Jonah Hill taking the role of an immature cop was expected to arouse several laughs, but it is Tatum’s performance that deserves the most praise; for an actor usually cast as the handsome, sensitive guy in chick-flicks, Tatum proves his versatility as an actor by showing off his funny, stupid side in “21 Jump Street.”
The movie is simply hilarious. Whether it be preparing for the party of a lifetime (organized solely to identify the drug supplier, of course), suiting up in a Peter Pan costume for the school musical, or getting dressed up to crash the prom, Hill and Tatum keep the audience roaring with laughter. However, the film is rated R—and for a good reason. Not a line is uttered that does not include a swear, and teen drinking and drug use is almost glorified. Although it is laden with raunchy comments and inappropriate jokes, “21 Jump Stree”t is a comedic masterpiece that puts “The Hangover” and its sequel to shame. Thanks to a stellar performance by the cast as well as a side-splitting plot, “21 Jump Street” sets the bar extremely high for future comedies.
