PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST MOVIE, BUT THEY KNOW IT AND ROLL WITH IT.
BY: TIM MORSE
June 14, 2014
Jonah Hill, Ice Cube (and his “cube of ice”), and Channing Tatum in 22 Jump Street.
When I first heard that they were making a sequel to 21 Jump Street, I was annoyed. I didn’t want them to ruin a good thing and even paint the first one in a bad light if they blew it. But, I can safely say that this sequel is just as fun as the first one. And that is completely due to the two main actors, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.
The story is pretty much the exact same as the first one, except in college. Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) now have to go deep undercover at a college campus, instead of a high school. They have to do the same things. Infiltrate the dealers and find the suppliers. Pretty much the same shenanigans ensue, as they both get separated into two different friend groups and they both have to do some investigating.
This movie is hilarious. There are parts of the movie where it gets a little dry and it isn’t as funny, mainly because we have already seen this once before. But most of the jokes are fresh enough for you to have a damn good time. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have amazing chemistry together. A long time ago, I would have laughed at this combination just because of Tatum’s acting, or lack thereof. But it works wonders. Separately, Hill and Tatum are kind of funny. But together, they are a riot.
If there is a downside to this movie, it is that it follows the exact same plotline as the first one. Yes, they do address it and make fun of themselves for it, but it still feels like a rehash. They use Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson) for this effect. He plays the guy who points out how similar this movie is to the first one and he even addresses how sequels never work out well. But this one does. Outside of the rehashed plotline, this movie is extremely enjoyable.
I do find it funny that Channing Tatum is the one guy that every woman in the movie theater drools over. But yet, it is Jonah Hill’s character that always hooks up with a girl in these movies. And that leads to the funniest part of the entire movie. Ice Cube is the true MVP of this movie. He is used a lot more than the previous movie and I’m glad he was. He is hilarious and steals every scene he is in. And the one scene where he blows up at everyone is hilarious. Even funnier is Channing Tatum’s 2-minute freak out to learning some funny information regarding his partner.
There are enough references and off-hand comments that make fun of the actors playing these characters and the end credit sequence is extremely funny as well. 22 Jump Street is a hilarious, yet familiar movie that still manages to feel fresh. Thanks, Ice Cube.
WHAT I LIKED:
+: The “Previously on…” at the beginning of the film. It is a nice callback to the TV series while providing a little chuckle.
+: Ice Cube is the MVP of the movie. He steals every scene he is in and always makes you laugh your ass off. His meltdown is the best thing ever.
+: Channing Tatum’s 2-minute freak out.
+: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s chemistry.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
-: The plot is definitely a copy of the first movie. But unlike the Hangover trilogy, 22 Jump Street still manages to feel fresh, adding plenty of new joke material to satisfy you. Enjoyable, but ultimately predictable.
