Funny when it's funny but not as good as the first.

Rating: 6/10 (29 September 2014)

21 Jump Street was the surprise comedy hit of 2012, even though it was adapted from a show much of its audience hadn't heard of. However, its inevitable sequel 22 Jump Street does not quite recapture the magic. It's still quite solid, there's not much point going too far into the nitpicking, but even on a comedic and storytelling basis it doesn't quite match up to its predecessor. The initial buzz for the film prided itself on its meta self-referencing about the nature of sequels and the film frequently mentions how it's exactly like the first time (it also suffers from a dull late surprise antagonist) and how things are getting expensive. But this wink isn't as well executed as it thinks nor imaginative. Instead, the film is mostly about the bromance of the first film going sour in the obnoxious party background of college. But still, when the film is funny, it's really funny. Jonah Hill is always great and Channing Tatum is getting better but he's not very consistent here. However, coupled with this and the nearly engrossing The Lego Movie, I don't think Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are all they're snuffed up to be. Just yet anyway. Perhaps they should have only had one film on their plate.
6/10