Having never seen the original '80s TV series, I didn't really know what to expect when I went to see "21 Jump Street". I found it interesting that the film itself was a comedy instead of a crime drama like the show it was based upon. Plus, the trailers and TV spots made it look hilarious. So my friends and I ended up seeing it together on opening weekend. And let me tell you, we all couldn't stop laughing from start to finish. Seriously, I haven't had so much fun watching a comedy like this in a long time.
The flick follows two former high school classmates named Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) as they join the police force and become rookie cop partners. They eventually team up with the secret Jump Street unit and use their youthful appearances to go undercover at a local high school, where the two investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. But soon, Schmidt and Jenko find that high school is nothing like they left it a few years back - and neither expects to confront the issues they thought they had left behind as teenagers.
Who would've thought that Hill and Tatum would end up being one of the funniest movie duos in recent memory? I sure didn't, but they proved me wrong with their amazing comedic chemistry. From their outrageously profane dialogue to their amusingly over-the-top fights, they had me cracking up in my seat for minutes on end. And it wasn't just the two lead actors that kept me entertained all the way through. The film was clever enough to satirize the classic formula of '80s teen movies at any chance it got. It constantly poked fun at the genre's many clichΓ©s, while also embracing them full-heartedly. There were also countless times when I thought the script would go one specific direction, but then it'd take an immediate left turn from out of nowhere. I could never really tell where the story was gonna go next, and that only made the journey more fun to watch. Even the action sequences themselves were completely unpredictable and hilariously spoofed to perfection. Not to mention there were a few cameos by some very familiar faces. I won't say who they are, but if you've seen the old show, you'll be in for one big surprise.
Honestly, "21 Jump Street" was one of the best comedies I've seen in quite a while. The cast was consistently, side-splittingly funny (Rob Riggle and Ice Cube's characters were hysterical beyond belief), the writing was top-notch and surprisingly smart, and the action was fast-paced and extremely well-executed. This is a film that's not afraid to take risks, has constant fun with its premise and never sends a preachy message to its audience. Genuinely funny, brilliantly crass and even a bit sentimental at times, "21 Jump Street" is one R-rated laugh riot you definitely shouldn't miss out on. Personally, I can't wait to purchase it for myself!