Film Review: "22 Jump Street" (2014).

“’We Jump Street, and we 'bout to jump in yo ass.’ ‘Mmmm-hmmm.’ ‘Right in the crack.’” Which is what is going down in 22 Jump Street. The sequel to the 2012 film 21 Jump Street, based on the 1987 television series of the same name by Stephen J. Cannelland Patrick Hasburgh. This American action comedy film is once again directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. This time, after making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college.

On March 17, 2012, Sony Pictures announced that it was pursuing a sequel to 21 Jump Street, signing a deal that would see Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall return to write a script treatment that would be again developed by Bacall. The film was originally scheduled to be released on June 6, 2014. On May 8, 2013, it was announced that the film would be pushed back a week until June 13, 2014. In June 2013, it was announced the film would be titled 22 Jump Street. In July 2013, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller confirmed they would return to direct the film. On September 6, 2013, Amber Stevens joined the cast of the film. On September 27, 2013, Kurt Russell mentioned that his son Wyatt turned down a role for The Hunger Games sequels to star in 22 Jump Street. Principal photography and production began on September 28, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana, with shots in San Juan, Puerto Rico as well (acting for the shots in the movie as the spring break in "Puerto Mexico") and ended on December 15, 2013.

The film co-stars Peter Stormare, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens and Jillian Bell. Who all gave outrageously hilarious performances. But the real credit goes to the two main stars - Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. What makes it all work is the chemistry between Hill and Tatum, which in turn, of course, is a rich source of the film's humor. Hill's neurotic-motormouth act and Tatum's lovable-lunkhead shtick still shoot giddy sparks. Hill and Tatum have a Laurel-and-Hardy-like implausible chemistry that keeps you laughing pretty much no matter what they're doing.

22 Jump Street dishes up more of the graphic humor and some of the insight that made 21 Jump Street a hit. What makes this film both winning and (somewhat unexpectedly) moving is its fidelity to the original ethic of buddy cop action, talking trash and refusing all worldly ambition. If anything, the sequel is more defiant in its disdain for the rat race, elevating the buddy-cop-picture prerogative from a lifestyle choice to a moral principle. New, well-developed characters add dimension to this batty satire, creating a comedy much more substantial than the original. There's simply too much glee on the screen, thanks to a cast and visual conception that were perfect in the first place, and a screenplay by Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman that specializes in delightfully arch, subversive humor. To conclude, it is impossible to dislike.

Simon says 22 Jump Street receives:

Also, see my reviews for The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street.