Hysterical "21 Jump Street"

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2012)

Evading gnarly biker drug dealers, undercover cops Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill hide in a Drivers Ed car. Tatum as Jenko tells Hill as Schmidt to pretend like he is giving him oral sex. Hill asks, 'Why me?' Tatum screams, "You're the one in the f***ing Peter Pan costume!" "21 Jump Street" is hysterical! It has got to be the funniest movie of the year.
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill are awesome together and elevate Bromance to another level. They have a distinct goofy and sweet bond. Jonah Hill also wrote the story with screenwriter Michael Bacall based on the beloved 90's TV series which distinguished Johnny Depp. Depp also has an outrageous cameo as Hanson. Along with Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs") this "Jump Street" is juggernaut parody with an amazingly authentic high school culture vibe. "21 Jump Street" is hilarious and arrestingly cool.
Hill and Bacall brilliantly take humorous shots at everyone blurring all lines. On the first day of school undercover, Jenko (Tatum) punches an African American teen; who he thinks gets in his face, turns out the kid is gay. Jenko says he didn't know he was gay. The kids verbally attack him for punching a gay kid. Deadpan Schmidt (Hill) says, "So in a weird way, he is homophobic if he didn't hit him?" The logic escapes me, but the moment is classic. After getting their undercover assignment at abandoned street church, Schmidt prays, "Hey Korean Jesus" There is actually a Korean Jesus on the cross. Jenko cracks up at Schmidt from behind.
Tatum and Hill are deadpan genius. With Jonah Hill you kind of expect this. Channing Tatum is brilliantly funny. Tatum is undercover with a bunch of science geeks, one kid asks, "So you were held back (2 years)?" He replies, "So you were held forward (2 years)?" Will Ferrell would be proud. Obviously, "21 Jump Street" leverages the polarized personas. Tatum is the ripped handsome action guy playing the stupid jock. Hill, who slimmed down, is the vulnerable nerd, who wants to be cool. Both play in position. After being mortal enemies in high school they reunite 7 years later at the Police Academy. Jenko says, "Hey not so Slim Shady, what's up?" Schmidt aces all the written exams. The physical training is cake for Jenko. They wisely form a partnership. Here Lord and Miller believably transform cultural opposites into best buds—the underlying sweetness of "21 Jump Street". The humor always pushes the envelope, but they are never ever mean spirited. And there are a lot of penis jokes— most of them hilarious.
Jenko and Schmidt graduate. However, their "lifetime of being bad asses" takes an unfortunate turn. They are assigned as bike cops on park patrol. After a botched arrest and hilarious Miranda rights screw up, the duo are assigned to 21 Jump Street. Director of the program Captain Dickson, played with funny angry gusto by Ice Cube, informs everyone, "You are here because you are Justin Beiber, Miley Cyrus looking mother f***ers!" Dickson wants Schmidt and Jenko to go undercover at their old high school and find the supplier of a particularly deadly designer drug. They watch YouTube videos of the stages of intoxication. While undercover they live with Schmidt's proud parents (funny Cardine Aaron and Joe Chrest). Pointing out an embarrassing kid glamor photo, Jenko says, "You look like a young Jay Leno."
High school has changed from 2005. The cool kids are the preppy environmentally conscious teens lead by Eric (slick charming Eric Franco). Not memorizing their student identities Schmidt ends up on the track team and drama class, while Jenko goes to class with science nerds in AP Chemistry. So while Jenko learns about covalent bonds, Schmidt meets popular Molly (ironic and perky Brie Larson). Schmidt may have a shot at redemption for his high school romantic crash and burn. Rob Riggles is ridiculously funny as gym teacher Mr. Walters. He has a gut busting scene with the boys when they are as high as a kite.
Surprisingly, "21 Jump Street" poignantly gets redemption and lifetime friendship. Jenko learns that he can be smart, and schools his geek brothers in being cool. There is an awesome montage with doves. The not so inside joke works: Tatum and Hill don't look at all like high school kids. After Jenko beats the crap out of bullies at their house party with his slick mixed martial arts skills, he stares in shock at Schmidt. Schmidt says, "When did I get stabbed? That's awesome!" Tatum and Hill have an endearing chemistry: they are funny together and you get that they really pull for each other. They redefine comedic Bromance in "21 Jump Street". I am absolutely waiting for "Jump Street 2". In the meantime, see "21 Jump Street".