"21 Jump Street" - Surprisingly good, I'll jump to see the sequel!

Rating: 8/10 (3 April 2012)

If ever there was a sequel to Superbad in which the characters grow up to be cops, this might be what it looks like. Here is the rare raunchy comedy (like the aforementioned Superbad and American Pie) that also has wonderfully likable characters and a rich heart at its core, beating with life and laughter. Jonah Jill and Channing Tatum are an incredible comedic duo as two rookie policeman, and the joy of their first "successful" arrest spills over onto the audience, and it swirls around with a manic energy for the rest of the film. 21 Jump Street is based on the classic television series starring Johnny Depp about cops going undercover at high school. Here, Tatum and Hill are looking to crack a drug ring! This film isn't merely an adaptation however, it takes humble shots at itself and is delightfully self-aware. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs fame, bring with them that same sense of visual overload and smart CGI into a few scenes that are so hilarious my abs still hurt. The film brims with style and a slew of cameos and big name actors, and is already set up for a sequel. Guess who can't wait to see it? Me.
By TOMMY BOND, thefilmdiscussion.com