A somewhat happy medium between a gross-out and a classic

Rating: 6/10 (20 May 2012)

Many modern comedies are plagued by a kind of gross-out humour, a sensationalization of the perverse and violent that has teen audiences laughing out of sheer shock. 21 Jump Street leans in this direction, but also has throwback moments to a more classic kind of humour. The movie certainly has its great and clever moments. Going undercover into a modern high school, the two main characters have the situation turned on their heads when it isn't quite what they remembered - and the clash experienced between them and their new peers is hilarious. Yet 21 Jump Street also has its cheap tricks, with a few of those gross-out moments that seem almost out of place. If you don't like the gross-out humour, this movie will still be tolerable, and at times hilarious, although you might find a steep and sudden decline in your enjoyment just before the end. If you love the Hangover-esque sensationally gross comedies, you will enjoy this movie until the end, and hopefully find a little refreshing extra flare. All in all, this movie seemed like a half-hearted attempt to find a medium between two types of comedy, and in that it was a moderate success.