21 Jump Street

The confidence that the makers of 21 Jump Street had about its success can be measured by the fact that Michael Bacall (Project X, Scott Pilgrim v/s the world), who has written the screenplay has already been identified as the writer for sequel to be released next year. Erm… how in the blazes did they think that a run of the mill slapstick attempt at remaking a reasonably successful TV serious from the late 80s/ early 90s starring Johnny Depp would be a success?

Something that my limited intelligence is able to fathom at this stage but then numbers do the talking and I would guess the numbers tell a different story for 21JS. Well, I have been surprised before and I continue to be surprised at what works in the movie business. Guess one has to stop thinking too hard and look at it from the heart as many of my friends have advised me of late. Be assured that all these fundas aren’t going to help you out when you are watching this pathetic attempt at comedy.

21JS is the story of Schmitt (a very slimmed down version of Johan Hill) and Jenko (I still cannot act too well Channing Tatum). Schmitt is the complete loser that one sees in most high school movies. One who cannot achieve much in life but for being an expert at nerdism. His nemesis is the college hottie Jenko. Whose sole purpose in life is to remind Schmitt about his loser status. As luck would have it, they both find themselves in the police force about 7 years after high school. They soon go on to become best friends because of their complimentary nature – Schmitt is the brain and Jenko the brawn.

They may be complimentary but they are definitely a recipe for disaster which definitely gets them into more trouble than required. As a punishment they are designated to 21 Jump Street where the qualifying criteria is that one has to look like they are high school students. 21JS is a programme to work under cover in high school.

Phil Lord & Chris Miller are in their 2nd movie – the first movie being an animation effort which I haven’t seen yet. But 21JS does not inspire much confidence in me to watch Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs. They are definitely set back a few notches by some really disgusting (pardon my lack of vocabulary but I really could not find any other words to describe it) screenplay.

The attempt at humour falls as flat on its face like tom falls prey to one of jerry’s antics. The story doesn’t even begin for over 30 minutes into the movie. That the cast cannot quite act is an added egg on the face. Jonah Hill left his acting prowess in Moneyball and Channing Tatum I cannot comment about. The only one who comes close would be Ice Cube who embodies the frustration of a police chief like very few others could.

In short, 21 Jump Street is one of THE most avoidable flicks released in the recent past. I took a wrong call and picked this over Mirror Mirror. Now I have to catch up with that as well. 3 on 10 would be liberal for 21JS. Sorry for the late review and if you have already fallen prey to it I assure you that my endeavour is to always publish on time. But then this is a hobby and not a full time profession. Appreciate your understanding.

Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1681366553/