Film Review - 22 Jump Street

Bad Boys

Film: 22 Jump Street

Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube

Directed by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Duration: 1 hr 52 mins

Rating: *  *  *

After a fun outing in 21 Jump Street, the duo of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return as undercover cops in this sequel which is as entertaining as the previous one, if not more. Yes the gags are pretty much the standard ones yet Tatum and Hill manage to pull it because of their camaraderie. 

You don’t need a magnifying glass to figure out that the story of 22 is much the same of 21. The directors Phil Lord, Christopher Miller also make a point about Hollywood and sequels in the innovative end credits.

Much like what they did last time around, Schmidt (Tatum) and Jenko (Hill) are sent to a college as undercover agents, there is a deadly drug doing the rounds on the premises and their job is to bust the gang. 

The usual red herrings and a bit of action, it’s all there in place but rather than the story, it is chemistry between the actors and the light weight nature of the episodes what keeps the film going. It doesn’t take itself too seriously hence you can go with the flow but don’t expect anything radical here.

Can’t be sure of it but many of the scenes look like they were improvised and it works in favor of the film.  Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are the stars, whether it their ‘breakup’ scene or the dead pan comic ones; they carry the film with élan.

A word about the censors- the film has an Adult certificate and yet there are so many swear words and parts of a sentence that are muted which makes you wonder why on earth they are trying to play big daddy. 

As for the film, if you are looking for entertainment then 22 Jump Street provides a decent dose of it.  

Published in The Navhind Times on 3rd Aug 2014 

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