"Jumped somewhat backwards."

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 2014)

Sometimes it can become a hassle to trust a sequel and remake when it's promoted to be superior to the original first installment in a series. There's no doubt that this idea was coming soon from afar and avoiding it wouldn't be a doubtful choice to those skeptical if it would succeed or fail. After the surprising success of the first movie, it's come to the attention of all audiences that this sequel truly knows what it is, where it belongs, and why it's not afraid to go beyond all expectations even if it ironically addresses it.
But this is where things take a wrongful and distracting turn when it becomes too self-aware and allows itself to be exactly as its original counterpart without straying away too far. To some, this may seem as an intentional gag that can be left excused and acceptable due to the circumstances, but it also shows there's a lack of boldness it had the chance to take advantage of had it fooled us twice as the first time.
22 Jump Street did exactly what it wanted and perhaps thought it cleverly jumped the shark - but unfortunately, even if it was brutally honest, it jumped somewhat backwards for not taking its own advice more seriously than portrayed.