Cast: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill
Director: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Ratings: 3/5
These charming cops let you have fun along with them...
By Priyanka Ketkar
Everyone is making remakes today, or adapting from some books or TV serials... One might even go as far as this and say that there is no originality, creativity left... But it indeed requires a lot of skill to remake what originally has been a super-hit. Very few such remakes are successful; one such is Phil Lord and Chris Miller's 21 Jump Street.
The movie, based on the Television serial 21 Jump Street, which brought Johnny Depp into focus is more like an inspiration than a remake, nevertheless, it is absolutely successful. I say this not by comparing it to the series, I say it 'coz as a movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
High School is a completely different (often difficult) phase in a teenager's life. Well, at least Schmidt's (Jonah Hill) high school life was one such sad story. The nerd, always-ignored Schmidt grows up and goes to the Police academy. Here, he meets Jenko (Channing Tatum), his high school bully and the stud during those days. But both end up becoming best friends. Their first real assignment is being assigned at the park. Bored, and wanting to prove that they can do more than just this, they try to chase a few druggies but end-up losing the park assignment as well. Now both have to go to the 21 Jump Street. This new assignment lands them back to where they started... High School! For the new generation, Schmidt is the cool guy and Jenko is the Jerk. This time around High school for them is all about role reversal. This assignment not only tests them as police officers, but also tests their friendship, their confidence, etc... Both are about to find out a lot about themselves and each other.
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill though are an odd-pairing, share excellent chemistry. Both are superb but the surprise is definitely Channing Tatum. He has finally come out and proven that this young man has a comic sense too.
The story is indeed very typical, very predictable but there is not a single moment where you get bored. The dialogues are funny and their sense of comedy although is a bit Tom-&-Jerry-chase funny, comes out very naturally and is not at all forced.
Overall, this one is a breezy, light comedy with loads of action (not very good action buts still...) and a pair of good-looking cops who let us have fun along with them.