Better Than the First.

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2015)

22 Jump Street (2014): Dir: Phil Lord, Chris Miller / Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Peter Stormare: Superior sequel to the overrated standard fare 21 Jump Street. This time out our two cops, played by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are sent to a college to investigate a new drug called Whyfhy that is responsible for a death. Plot doesn't matter but the structure is detailed with hilarious references to the fact that this is a sequel. There is also a cleverly written scene where the two leads go their separate ways and their amusing dialogue plays like a romantic relationship breakup. This allows this film to exceed where trash like The Hangover, Part 2 failed. Hill hooks up with the wrong female on campus resulting in the most hilarious set of events and consequences. Tatum is naive to everything around him but he finds acceptance at a gay frat house where he excels at football. Ice Cube's role in the first film was pretty flat, but here he is given broader material resulting in perhaps his funniest moments in film. Amber Stevens as the student whom Hill hooks up with is unfortunately flat. And Peter Stormare as a villain who calls himself Ghost is also a reduction compared to his sinister work in Fargo, The Brothers Grimm and 8MM. The budget is bigger and directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller heighten the action and even include great use of split screen when Hill and Tatum are on opposite ends of a drug high. It would be easy to write this film off as just a sequel but its in jokes and relationship references allow it to not just jump but to hit major leaps in what is a smarter film than anticipated. Score: 7 ½ / 10