Lackluster as a sequel, a hoot as a film.

Rating: 6/10 (10 July 2014)

Rejoice. The thickheads are back to their old bumbling selves. Or are they?
The inherent beauty of watching a movie is to walk into it with the notion that it won't be good and the trip is nothing but a mammoth waste of time, but it unexpectedly sweeps you off your feet. That's what happened with me with "21 Jump Street."
Sadly, that's not the case with "22 Jump Street." Not by a mile.
That's not to say it is a bad film, no, but unless you relish bon mots carefully placed between squishy sentimentality, there is no way this will add up to be the kind of film its predecessor was. "21 Jump Street" was an enormously goofy film that had a unique plot with the kind of tart humor that at times surpassed acceptable standards. That was what made it a film I kept going back to, starving for more of that hilarity seamlessly blended with great chemistry between Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. With "22 Jump Street," we get the exact same plot as before - and we know this because the characters keep repeating how similar it all is to 'the last time' - but none of it is even mildly astounding. Sure, one or two gags strewn casually over some scenes crack you up, but it lacks the twists that made its predecessor a risqué but entertaining ride.
However, not all of it skids. The argument could be made that "22 Jump Street" is more heartfelt, more realized as a 'buddy-cop' film, with a more intricate plot to work with. The humor is squeaky clean this time around too, making it more accessible to its target audience, but for a staunch fan of the first film like me, this was a major negative. I don't associate clean humor with the franchise, that simply kills the intention, you see. But that's just an essential for me.
The element that impressed me the most was the film's willingness to laugh at itself, its characters - a few of them could have been done away with though - and the gimmicks it throws up. It features one of the most comical brawls I have seen in the movies recently, and more of Ice Cube's priceless tirades. It's a sequel so aware of the responsibilities it is shouldering that it sticks to the old formulas like moth to a flame, and the clichés it does well. Really well.
I didn't expect "22 Jump Street" to be a perfect film by any standard, but my expectations were right through the roof. It needed its characters to be more fleshed out, more detailed, its plot a bit more incisive and it could have hit the spot beautifully. But what I saw was a film desperate to keep up with my patience that was fast vaporizing. Strip the film of the unnecessaries and you would get the sequel I had envisioned. And that includes the disposable bit of Schmidt's love interest. Come on, what purpose did Amber Stevens serve to the plot eventually? Zilch.
In one of the scenes, there is an indication of a "23 Jump Street" coming up next. I shall wait. But I do hope that it will be more like the first than the second. So do the audience who watched it with me in the theaters. I reckon they weren't too amused either.