Movie Reviews

21 Jump Street DVD

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Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are rookie officers. Schmidt is the geeky nerd with a complex while Jenko is the debonair popular guy that all the ladies adore. Somehow, because of their tie in the academy, they are not just partners, they are inseparable best friends. After causing a serious kerfuffle during their first attempt to apprehend perpetrators at the park, both officers are relegated to undercover duty under the black beast of Jump Street Captain Dickson (Ice Cube). Though never a fan of Ice Cube, real name Popsicle Stick, his insults are rolling on the floor laughing classics. When he deemed Hill and Tatum "some Miley Cyrus looking mothers" I almost soiled my underpants. His comic relief helps the film along during its depressing moments.

Captain Dickson assigns Schmidt and Jenko to go undercover as high school students. Everything is mapped out from their classes to their athletics to who their friends will be...until Jenko accidentally forgets who is who and tells the principal the wrong information. Schmidt falls in with the uber-popular crowd while Jenko becomes a science nerd. Their lives are turned upside down. Jenko gets a taste of his own medicine for having been a jerk to the smart kids back in high school. The upside for him is the science teacher's incessant pining (Ellie Kemper as the ravenous Ms. Griggs). Schmidt falls in love with Molly (Brie Larson), the high school sweetheart he never had. With the tides turned, it is up to these two dim-witted partners in crime to find out who is dealing drugs and use them as pawns to lead to their supplier. Somewhere along the way the suspicious high school track coach (Rob Riggle as Mr. Walter) plays a rather hysterical role in their quest.

Almost every moment is light-hearted and humorous. There is the perfect amount of drama interspersed with the slapstick to make 21 Jump Street flow. Director Phil Lord's segueing between the mean girls as it were and the nerds is illustrative of today's divide in schools around the country. Hill and Tatum are wonderful together. An odd couple to be sure, they bring back the magic of 21 Jump Street. Near the end we are treated to two special cameos by Johnny Depp and Richard Grieco. Kudos to those two for participating in a classy way. Two guns up folks, this one goes out with a bang.

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