The late 1980's pop culture relic "21 Jump Street" was a primo specimen of a TV police procedural with a catchy hook: A team of fresh-faced cops work undercover as high school kids, reporting back to their tough/earnest boss at the address listed above.It has to be mentioned that the hit series lasted for four years, and was remarkable innovative in its willingness to incorporate newsmaking social issues, such as AIDS, homophobia, and child abuse. But 25 years later, "21 Jump Street" the TV show is remembered primarily as the career kickstarter of Johnny Depp as a young actor with an obvious something. As it turns out, dim memories and a new generation of pop culture consumers work to the great advantage of "21 Jump Street" the movie: What this fast, cheeky, and hilarious portrayal of the original premise sacrifices in teachable moments, it makes up for in intelligent giddiness.
Shaped by the precocious comedic smarts of talent-on-a-roll Jonah Hill (who not only costars but also developed the story with Michael Bacall and is one of the executive producers), the movie develops into an action comedy with a tonal complexity that marks it as a very contemporary creative project. It's part homage and part wink at the past. It makes fun about high school but is also a sensitive sociological study of those crucial years. It bridges slapstick and action. It's quick-witted with its pop references. The highlight is that Johnny Depp makes a delightful cameo appearance!
On the surface, "21 Jump Street" follows the crime-fighting antics of odd-pair cop partners Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). Their wonky dynamic is established in a perfectly placed opening flashback to 2005, when the two were real high school students , Schmidt the nervous nerd with a brain; Jenko the athletic, academically challenged coolio. Seven years later, when both police rookies are coincidentally assigned to an undercover,high schooler program, the duo are prepared to play out those same life scripts, until a mix-up alters fate. Schmidt is assigned a class schedule befitting a popular non-Einstein; Jenko is shuffled into advanced-placement chemistry. (''Ap-chemistry,'' he calls it, laboriously reading his course list.)
On the surface, "21 Jump Street" follows the crime-fighting antics of odd-pair cop partners Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). Their wonky dynamic is established in a perfectly placed opening flashback to 2005, when the two were real high school students , Schmidt the nervous nerd with a brain; Jenko the athletic, academically challenged coolio. Seven years later, when both police rookies are coincidentally assigned to an undercover,high schooler program, the duo are prepared to play out those same life scripts, until a mix-up alters fate. Schmidt is assigned a class schedule befitting a popular non-Einstein; Jenko is shuffled into advanced-placement chemistry. (''Ap-chemistry,'' he calls it, laboriously reading his course list.)
Given a do-over, the two get to reexperience those less than wonder years. They get to work issues out. And by the way they get to bust a drug ring fronted by a smart and famous guy played with oddball charisma by Dave Franco. (The curiosity isn't that he's the brother of James Franco; it's that he's so interestingly weird.)
Underneath, "21 Jump Street" is a riot of risks that pay off, the biggest of which might be handing Tatum funny business. Tatum appears as a really funny, self-aware comic actor. Who could have ever imagined? Channing despite his famous toned abs and great looks is charming in his new role as a comedian!
And most surprising, those scenes where the smart actor, playing a ''dumb'' character who figures out he's not as dumb as he has always considered he is, fakes portraying a dumb guy to mess with his smart partner's head are kind of perfect. Also, Tatum can sustain a great Dumb Face.
Under the limber direction of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ("Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"), and working from a screenplay by Bacall , a script jammed, by the way, with so many oinky references to male reproductive equipment, Hill and Tatum play their Mutt-and-Jeff act against a supporting cast equally fast on their feet.
A refresher viewing of any old "Jump Street" episode may sharpen your appreciation for the kind of earnest '80s-TV police captain that Ice Cube is tweaking in his funky turn as Schmidt and Jenko's boss, but the joke is equally welcome without the historical background. Explaining why he's assigning Schmidt and Jenko to shutting down the school drug ring after the passing of one student, the captain tells it true: ''This kid is white, so people actually give a s---.'' There's room for laughs and truth at this newly reopened address.
Are you excited about 21 Jump Street remake?
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Photos taken from communities.washingtontimes.com, mjbstar.com and businessinsider.com
