Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Written by Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman
Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube
‘Absolutely Hilarious’
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back and funnier than ever in “22 Jump Street”, a clever, fast-paced and flat-out hilarious sequel to 2012’s unexpected hit. If you’ve ever found yourself laughing at or making fun of how ridiculous movie sequels can be, it’s a gleefully self-aware film that will have you in fits of laughter from start to finish.
A follow-up to 2012’s “21 Jump Street”, this comedy teams up undercover cops Schmidt and Jenko for an all-new mission. This time around, the premise is the same only with a change of location. After surviving high-school, undercover cops Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are now tasked with hunting down a drug-dealing business in College. An illegal drug known as ‘whyphy’ is the talk of the town, but will the pair be able to put an end to it before all hell breaks loose?
To start off, I must admit that very few comedies today make me laugh. Featuring dirty humor, dumb gags and a lack of effort, the comedy genre hasn’t fared so well over the last decade. It’s products, catered towards commercial audiences, have either flopped or made it big. In other words, it’s been a hit-or-miss trend. However, the majority have fallen into the ‘miss’ category. These days all a comedy needs to become popular is the number of swear words used in a sentence or immature behavior. Yet where’s the humor? By being more shocking than funny, only a small amount of comedies today accomplish their ultimate goal: to make you laugh.
That being said, there have been exceptions over the last few years. Every once in a blue moon, comedies like “This is the End” or “The World’s End” come along to add creativity to this stale genre. Like a Wedding, they cause for a celebration because you never know if they’ll occur again.
Joining the ranks of those films this year is “22 Jump Street”, a comedy that will leave your throat dry from laughing. As everyone knows, improving upon an already successful film can be a nerve-wracking job. Especially if you’re talking about one of the most beloved comedies of the last decade. Yet, thanks to the magical pairing between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, “22 Jump Street” knocks the ball out of the park.
Arguably the most memorable comedic duo since the iconic Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction”, these actors are a match made in heaven. With an irresistible charm and innocent looks, Hill is instantly likable in a way that young actors nowadays never are. Tatum, on the other hand, is bursting with energy and seems to be having the time of his life. When these stars are on screen together, it’s almost impossible to look away.
The same can be said for the supporting cast, which sets the screen on fireworks. Ice Cube, in particular, is absolutely hilarious in a role that proves him to be a comedic genius. A memorable scene in which the actor flips a food buffet will have comedy-lovers roaring with laughter.
As is the case with most comedies these days, whether or not an audience laughs ultimately depends on the quality of the script. It’s here that “22 Jump Street” hits the jackpot, with a screenplay that’s both energetic and witty. Although it’s splattered with profanity, the writing is crisp, endlessly quotable and sharp. And like electricity going through a plug, it keeps the laughs coming-and-going 24/7.
If there’s a fault to be found, though, not every joke hits the bulls-eye. A few, especially those involving private-parts, prove to be more disgusting than funny. It’s understandable when a comedy uses dirty humor for laughs, but only to an extent. “22 Jump Street” relies on it tremendously, which can get on the nerves of audiences who are easily offended by this type of humor.
Yet, if you count in a wonderfully over-the-top score, a running time that zips by in a matter of minutes and perhaps the funniest end-credits scene ever put to screen, “22 Jump Street” is far too fun of an experience to miss. As soon as the credits roll, you’ll be left with a smile on your face for days.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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