Review: The Boys are Back for "22 Jump Street"

Adam Reynoso ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Filled with bigger laughs and more Ice Cube, the same team is back for 22 Jump Street and proves it can maintain the humor from the first film and then some.
What made the first film fresh and funny was it use of meta humor. The sequel continues to use that to its advantage, being extremely self-aware. From the beginning to the end montage full of joke ads for future sequels, the characters of 22 Jump Street are aware of what kind of movie they’re in. Even the jokes making fun of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill‘s age continue to bring out the laughs. Nick Offerman is back and tells the two cops how they should just “do the same thing” they did in the first film because it worked and then “everyone’s happy.” His few appearances are still on point and add to the comedy.

The two cops were going to go undercover at a local college to find out who was selling a dangerous drug and then find the supplier. It mirrored the same formula that worked for the first film. At the same time, Offerman says that Hill’s Schmidt would become clingy and eventually, Tatum’s Jenko would walk away. While the film does basically follow this pattern, it works differently than the first film because these guys aren’t dealing with high school kids. Instead, they’re thrust into the college world where students are adults trying to figure out what they want to do next. It also means frat parties and more coeds.
But one of the many surprises of the first film was the chemistry between the two leads, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. They continue to work off of each other and build on what made the pairing in the last film. However, the continuous likening of their friendship to a romantic relationship did get a bit tired after the first couple of times. Aside from that, the two worked well in a film that used their physical/personality differences to highlight both of their talents. It seemed fitting to see Tatum mesh with the football team and have a friendship with someone more like him on the team. And of course Hill would fall in with the artsy crowd and become one of the girls doing the walk of shame across campus.

The use of Ice Cube’s Captain Dickson was perfect. And given his connection to another character in the film, he really shines in the sequel. His insults are even better as well.
22 Jump Street is another great buddy cop film that takes the meta humor to the next level. It’s great enough film that it can stand on its own and make sense for those who might not have seen the first film. And Tatum and Hill are still working well together and really bringing their character’s friendship to the forefront.
Overall Grade: B+

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